इत्युक्तवा राजशार्दूल राज्ञे सर्वं न्यवेदयत् । त्रिंशद्रात्रिमिमां भीरुः कृतकृत्या निवासये ।। 47
Having spoken thus, O tiger among kings, she reported everything to the king: 'Let this fearful woman, whose purpose is accomplished, stay for thirty nights.'
कीचके तु हते राजा विराटः परवीरहा। शोकमाहारयत्तीव्रं सामात्यः सपुरोहितः ।। 1
When Kīcaka was slain, King Virāṭa, destroyer of enemy heroes, was seized by intense grief, along with his ministers and priests.
कीचकस्य वधं घोरं सानुजस्य विशांपते । अत्याहितं चिन्तयित्वा व्यस्मयन्त पृथग्जनाः ।। 2
Reflecting on the dreadful killing of Kichaka and his brothers, O lord of the people, the common folk were astonished.
तस्मिन्पुरे जनपदे जजल्पुश्चापि सर्वशः । वीर्यवान्दयितो राज्ञो दर्पोत्सिक्तश्च कीचकः ।। 3
In that city and region, everywhere people spoke: Kichaka, strong and favored by the king, proud and arrogant.
सांपराये परिक्रुष्टो बलवान्दुर्जयो रणे। आसीत्प्रहर्ता शत्रूणां दारदर्शी च दुर्मतिः । स हतः किल गन्धर्वैः सैरन्ध्रीकारणान्निशि ।। 4
In battle, he was called upon, powerful and unconquerable in war, a striker of enemies, wicked in mind and a pursuer of women; he was slain at night by Gandharvas because of Sairandhri.
इत्यजल्पन्महाराज कीचकस्य विनाशनम् । देशेदेशे मनुष्याश्च विस्मितः कीचके हते ।। 5
Thus, O great king, people everywhere spoke of Kichaka's destruction, and men in every place were amazed at his death.
अथ वैः धार्तराष्ट्रेण प्रयुक्ता ये बहिश्चराः । मृगयित्वा बहून्देशान्ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च ।। 6
Then, those spies sent by Dhritarashtra searched many regions, villages, and cities.
संविधाय यथाऽऽदिष्टं यथादेशं प्रदर्शकाः । कृतसंकेतनाः सर्वे न्यवर्तन्त पुरं ततः ।। 7
Having carried out their instructions as ordered, all the informants, having made their arrangements, returned to the city.
आगम्य हास्तिनपुरं धार्तराष्ट्रमरिन्दमम्। तत्र दृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कौरव्यं धृतराष्ट्रजम् ।। 8
Arriving at Hastinapura, to Dhritarashtra, the foe-subduer, they saw the Kaurava king, son of Dhritarashtra.
द्रोणकर्णकृपैः सार्धं भीष्मेण च महात्मना। संगतं भ्रातृभिः सार्धं त्रिगर्तैश्च महारथैः ।। 9
Together with Drona, Karna, Kripa, and the great-souled Bhishma, assembled with his brothers and the mighty chariot-warriors of the Trigartas.
प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ वर्धयित्वा जयाशिषा। आसीनं सूर्यसंकाशे काञ्चने परमासने ।। 10
Bowing their heads to the ground, offering blessings for victory, they saw him seated on a golden, supreme throne, shining like the sun.
उपास्यमानं सचिवैर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवम् । विद्वद्भिर्गायकैः सार्धं कविभिः स्तुतिपाठकैः ।। 11
Surrounded by ministers, like Indra among the Maruts, with learned singers and poets reciting praises.
अनेकैरपि राजन्यैः सेवितं सपरिच्छदैः। दुर्योधनं सभामध्ये आसीनमिदमब्रुवन् ।। 12
Served by many kings with their retinues, they spoke to Duryodhana, seated in the midst of the assembly.
कृतोऽस्माभिः परो यत्नस्तेषामन्वेषणे सदा । पाण्डवानां मनुष्येन्द्र तस्मिन्महति कानने ।। 13
We have made every effort, O king of men, always searching for the Pandavas in that great forest.
निर्जने व्यालसंकीर्णे नानाभ्रमरसंकुले । लताप्रतानगहने नानागुल्मसमावृते ।। 14
In the lonely wilderness, filled with wild beasts and swarming with various bees, in the dense thickets of creepers, covered with many shrubs.
न च विद्मो गता येन पार्थाः सुदृढविक्रमाः । मार्गमाणाः पदन्यासमाश्रमेषु वनेषु च ।। 15
But we do not know where the mighty Pandavas have gone, though searching for their footprints in hermitages and forests.
गिरिकूटेषु तुङ्गेषु नानाजनपदेषु च। जनाकीर्णेषु देशेषु चत्वरेषु पुरेषु च ।। 16
On lofty mountain peaks, in various regions, in crowded places, crossroads, and cities.
नरेन्द्र सहसा नष्टान्नैव विद्म च पाण्डवान्। अत्यन्तादर्शनान्नष्टा भद्रं तुभ्यं नरर्षभ ।। 17
O king, the Pandavas have suddenly vanished, and we do not know them; because they are completely unseen, they are lost—good fortune to you, O best of men.
गिरीणां कूटकुञ्जेषु कन्दरोदरसानुषु। नदीप्रस्रवणेष्वेव ह्रदेषु च सरस्सु च।। 18
In the mountain caves and ravines, on slopes and in river springs, in lakes and ponds.
गह्वरेषु च दुर्गेषु ग्रामेषू पवनेषु च। दुर्विज्ञेया गतिस्तेषां मृग्यतेऽस्माभिरेव च ।। गजव्याघ्रसमीपेषु सिंहान्ते शरभान्तरे ।। 19
In forests and fortresses, in villages and open spaces, their movements are hard to discern, and we ourselves search for them—among elephants and tigers, at the edge of lions, and among sharabhas.
वत्मन्यन्विच्छमानास्तु रथानां रथिसत्तम। कंचित्कालं मनुष्येन्द्र सूताननुगता वयम् ।। 20
O best of charioteers, while searching for the tracks of the chariots, we followed the charioteers for some time, O king of men.
मृगयित्वा यथान्यायं विदितार्थाश्च तत्वतः। प्राप्ता द्वारवतीं सूता विना पार्थैः परंतप ।। 21
Having searched properly and learned the facts, the charioteers, scorcher of foes, reached Dvaravati without the Pandavas.
न तत्र कृष्णा राजेन्द्र पाण्डवाश्च महाव्रताः। नरदेव यथोद्दिष्टं न च विद्मात्र पाण्डवान् ।। 22
There, O king, neither Krishna nor the great-vowed Pandavas were present as described; nor do we know of the Pandavas here.
निर्वृतो भव नष्टास्ते स्वस्थो भव परंतप । सर्वथैव प्रनष्टास्ते नमस्ते भरतर्षभ ।। 23
Be at ease, they are lost to you; be calm, O scorcher of foes. In every way they are lost to you; our respects to you, bull among the Bharatas.
सर्वा च पृथिवी कृत्स्ना सशैलवनकानना । सराष्ट्रनगरग्रामा पत्तनैश्च समन्विता । अन्वेषिता च सर्वत्र न च पश्यामा पाण्डवान् ।। 24
The entire earth, with its mountains, forests, groves, kingdoms, cities, villages, and towns, has been searched everywhere, but we do not see the Pandavas.
पुनः शाधि मनुष्येन्द्र अत ऊर्ध्वं विशांपते। अन्वेषणे पाण्डवानां भूयः किं करवामहे ।। 25
Now instruct us again, O king of men, lord of the people: what should we do next in the search for the Pandavas?
इमां च नः प्रियां वीर वाचं भद्रवतीं शृणु ।। 26
And now, hero, listen to this pleasant and auspicious news from us.
येन त्रिगर्ता निहता बलेन बहुशो नृप। सूतेन राज्ञो मत्स्यस्य कीचकेन बलीयसा। स हतः पतितः शेते गन्धर्वैर्निशि भारत ।। 27
He by whose strength the Trigartas were repeatedly defeated, the mighty Suta Kichaka, general of the Matsya king, lies slain and fallen at night by the Gandharvas, O Bharata.
स्यालो राज्ञो विराटस्य सेनापतिरुदारधीः। सुदेष्णायानुजः क्रूरः शूरो वीरो गतव्यथः ।। 28
He was the brother-in-law of King Virata, commander of the army, noble-minded, Sudeshna's younger brother, cruel, brave, heroic, and fearless.
उत्साहवान्महावीर्यो नीतिमान्बलवानपि । युद्धज्ञो रिपुवीर्यघ्नःक सिंहतुल्यपराक्रमः ।। 29
He was energetic, of great valor, wise in policy, strong, skilled in battle, destroyer of enemy strength, and his courage was like a lion's.