सर्वे संहृष्टरोमाणः संत्रस्ताः प्रेक्ष्य कीचकम्। तथा संभुग्नसर्वाङ्गं कूर्मं स्थल इवोद्धृतम् ।। 2
All of them, their hair standing on end and filled with fear, looked upon Kichaka, his limbs crushed like a tortoise pulled out onto dry land.
पोथितं भीमसेनेन महेन्द्रेणेव दानवम्। कीचकं बलसंमत्तं दुर्धर्षं येन केन चित् ।। 3
Kichaka, intoxicated with strength and hard to subdue, was struck down by Bhimasena as Indra would strike down a demon.
गन्धर्वेण हतं श्रुत्वा कीचकं पुरुषर्षभम्। संस्कारयितुमिच्छन्तो बहिर्नेतुं प्रचक्रमुः ।। 4
Hearing that Kichaka, the best of men, had been slain by a Gandharva, they began preparations to carry him out for the funeral rites.
अपश्यन्नथ ते कृष्णां मूतपुत्राः समागताः। अदूरादनवद्याङ्गीं स्तम्भमालिङ्ग्य तिष्ठतीम् ।। 5
Then, those sons of his mother, gathered together, saw Krishna not far away, flawless in form, standing and embracing a pillar.
समागतेषु सूतेषु तानुवाचोपकीचकः। हसन्निव पदाऽमर्षान्निर्दहन्निव चक्षुषा ।। 6
When the charioteers had assembled, Kīcaka’s brother, with words, laughed as if in mockery, yet with his foot showed anger, and with his gaze seemed to burn them.
हन्यतां शीघ्रमसती यत्कृते कीचको हतः। अथवा नैव हन्तव्या दह्यतां कामिना सह ।। 7
Let this wicked woman, for whose sake Kīcaka was slain, be killed at once; or if not, let her be burned together with her lover.
मृतस्यापि प्रियं कार्यं सूतपुत्रस्य सर्वथा । इयं हि दुष्टचरिता मम भ्रातुरमित्रिणी ।। 8
Even for one who is dead, what is dear must be done for the son of the charioteer in every way; for this woman is of evil conduct, the enemy of my brother.
यत्कृते मरणं प्राप्तो नेयं जीवितुमर्हति। सहेयं दह्यतां सूता आमन्त्र्य च जनाधिपम् । हतस्यापि हि गन्धर्वैः कीचकस्य प्रियं भवेत् ।। 9
Because of whom he met his death, she does not deserve to live; let her be burned together with him, the charioteers said, addressing the king. Even for one slain by the Gandharvas, this would be pleasing to Kīcaka.
ततो विराटमासाद्य सूताः प्राञ्जलयोऽब्रुवन्। कीचकोऽयं हतः शेते गन्धर्वैः कामरूपिभिः ।। 10
Then, approaching Virāṭa, the charioteers, with joined palms, said: 'This Kīcaka lies slain by Gandharvas who can assume any form.'
सैरन्ध्र्या घातितो रात्रौ तं दहेम सहानया । मानिताः स्मस्त्वया वीर तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ।। 11
'He was killed by Sairandhrī at night; let us burn him together with her. We have been honored by you, O hero; you should grant us this permission.'
पराक्रमं तु सूतानां ज्ञात्वा राजाऽन्वमन्यत । सैरन्ध्र्याः सूतपुत्रेण सह दाहं नराधिपः ।। 12
Knowing the strength of the charioteers, the king approved the burning of Sairandhrī together with the son of the charioteer.
ततस्ते समनुज्ञाताः सर्वे तत्रास्य बान्धवाः। रुरुदुः कीचकं दृष्ट्वा परिवार्याभितः स्थिताः ।। 13
Then, having received permission, all his relatives gathered there, surrounded Kīcaka, and wept, standing around him.
आरोप्य कृष्णां सह कीचकेन निबध्य केशेषु च पादयोश्च। ते चापि सूता वचनैरवोचन्नुद्दिश्य चैनामभिवीक्ष्य कृष्णाम् ।। 14
Binding Kṛṣṇā by her hair and feet, they placed her together with Kīcaka; and the charioteers spoke these words, pointing to her and gazing at Kṛṣṇā.
यस्याः कृते।़यं निहतो महात्मा तस्माद्धि सा कीचकमार्गमेतु । अवार्यसत्वेन च कीचकेन गतासुना सुन्दरी स्वर्गलोकम् ।। 15
Because of whom this great-souled man was slain, let her follow Kīcaka’s path; since Kīcaka, unrestrained and now dead, this beautiful woman will go to the heavenly world.
सा तेन कृष्णा शयने निबद्धा यशस्विनी चैव मनस्विनी च। अनार्यसत्त्वेन महार्यसत्त्वा गतासुना सा प्ररुरोद कृष्णा । विलम्बमाना विवशा हि दुष्टैस्तत्रैव पर्यङ्कवरे शुभाङ्गी ।। 16
Thus Kṛṣṇā, renowned and steadfast, was bound on the bed with him; though of noble nature, she was tied by those of ignoble character to the lifeless one, and Kṛṣṇā wept, helpless, delayed by the wicked, on that very couch, her limbs lovely.
ह्रियमाणाऽथ सुश्रोणी सूतपुत्रैरनिन्दिता। प्राक्रोशन्नाथमिच्छन्ती कृष्णा नाथवती सती ।। 17
Then the blameless, beautiful-hipped Kṛṣṇā, being dragged by the charioteers, cried out, seeking a protector, though she had protectors.
मृतेन सह बद्धाङ्गी निराशा जीविते तदा। श्मशानाभिमुखं नीता करेणुरिव रौति सा ।। 18
Bound in her limbs with the dead, despairing of life, she was led toward the cremation ground, and like a cow, she wailed.
जयो जयेशो विजयो जयत्सेनो जयद्बलः। त मे वाचं विजानन्तु सूतपुत्रा नयन्ति माम् ।। 19
'Jaya, Jayesha, Vijaya, Jayatsena, Jayadbala—let them hear my voice, for the sons of the charioteer are taking me away.'
येषां दुन्दुभिनिर्घोषो ज्याघोषः श्रूयते महान्। ते मे वाचं विजानन्तु सूतपुत्रा नयन्ति माम् ।। 20
'Those whose drums resound, whose bowstrings thunder greatly—let them hear my voice, for the sons of the charioteer are taking me away.'
येषां ज्यातलनिर्घोषो विस्फूर्जितमिवाशनेः। अश्रूयत महान्युद्धे भीमघोपस्तरस्विनाम् ।। 21
'Those whose bowstrings’ deep sound was heard in the great battle, like the crack of thunder, as they spread terror—'
रथघोपश्च बलवान्गन्धर्वाणां तरस्विनाम् । ते मे वाचं बिजानन्तु सूतपुत्रा नयन्ति माम् ।। 22
'And the mighty roar of the chariots of the swift Gandharvas—let them hear my voice, for the sons of the charioteer are taking me away.'
येषां वीर्यमतुल्यं तु शक्रस्येव बलं यशः। राजसिंहा इवाग्र्यास्ते मां जानन्तु सुदुःखितां ।। 23
'Those whose valor is unequalled, whose strength and fame are like Indra’s, who are foremost like royal lions—let them know me, so greatly afflicted.'
इत्यस्याः कृपणा वाचः कृष्णायाः परिदेविताः। श्रुत्वैवाभ्युत्थितो भीमः शयनादविचारयन् ।। 24
Hearing these pitiful words, these lamentations of Krishna, Bhima immediately rose from his bed, pondering deeply.
अहं सैरन्ध्रि ते वाचः शृणोमि तव भाषिताः। तस्मात्ते सूतपुत्रेभ्यो न भयं जातु विद्यते ।। 25
I, Sairandhri, have heard your words, and therefore, you need never fear the sons of the charioteer.
इत्युक्त्वा स महाबाहुर्विजजृम्भे जिघांसया ।। 26
Having spoken thus, that mighty-armed one stretched himself, intent on killing.
ततः स व्यायतं बद्ध्वा वस्त्रं विपरिवेष्ट्य च। अद्वारेणाभ्यवस्कन्द्य निर्जगाम बहिस्तदा ।। 27
Then, tying his garment tightly and wrapping it around himself, he slipped out by a side door and went outside.
स लङ्घयित्वा प्राकारमारुह्य तरसा द्रुमम् । श्मशानाभिमुखः प्रायाद्यत्र ते कीचका गताः ।। 28
Leaping over the wall, he swiftly climbed a tree and proceeded toward the cremation ground, where the Kichakas had gone.
स लङ्घयित्वा प्राकारं निःसृत्य च पुरोत्तमात् । जवेनोत्पतितो भीमः सूतानामग्रतस्तदा ।। 29
Having vaulted over the wall and emerged from the great city, Bhima sped ahead with force, before the sutas.
चितासमीपं गत्वा स तत्रापश्यन्महाबलः । तालमात्रं महास्कन्धमूर्ध्वशुष्कं वनस्पतिम् ।। 30
Reaching near the funeral pyre, that mighty one saw a great tree, as tall as a palm, with a massive trunk and dried at the top.
तं नागवदुपक्रम्य बाहुभ्यां परिरभ्य च। वृक्षमुत्पाटयामास भीमो भीमपराक्रमः ।। 31
Approaching it like an elephant, Bhima of terrible prowess embraced the tree with his arms and uprooted it.