Draupadi Sets the Tryst with Kichaka

Verse 1 (4.25.1)

तथा भद्रे करिष्यामि यथा त्वं भीरु भाषसे । अद्यैनं सूदयिष्यामि कीचकं सह बान्धवैः ॥

tathā bhadre kariṣyāmi yathā tvaṃ bhīru bhāṣase | adyainaṃ sūdayiṣyāmi kīcakaṃ saha bāndhavaiḥ

I will do as you say, good lady, timid one. This very day I will slay Kichaka together with his kinsmen.

Verse 2 (4.25.2)

अस्याः प्रदोषे शर्वर्याः कुरुष्वानेन संविदम् । दुःखं शोकं च निर्धूय याज्ञसेनि शुचिस्मिते ॥

asyāḥ pradoṣe śarvaryāḥ kuruṣvānena saṃvidam | duḥkhaṃ śokaṃ ca nirdhūya yājñaseni śucismite

Tonight, when evening falls, cast off your grief and sorrow, Yajnaseni of the pure smile, and make an appointment with him.

Verse 3 (4.25.3)

यैषा नर्तनशालेह मत्स्यराजेन कारिता । दिवात्र कन्या नृत्यन्ति रात्रौ यान्ति तथा गृहं ॥

yaiṣā nartanaśāleha matsyarājena kāritā | divātra kanyā nṛtyanti rātrau yānti tathā gṛhaṃ

There is a dancing hall here that the king of the Matsyas has had built. By day the maidens dance in it, and at night they go home.

Verse 4 (4.25.4)

तत्रास्ति शयनं भीरु दृढाङ्गं सुप्रतिष्ठितम् । तत्रैनं दर्शयिष्यामि पूर्वप्रेतान्पितामहान् । त्वद्दर्शनसमुत्थेन कामेनाकुलितेन्द्रियम् ॥

tatrāsti śayanaṃ bhīru dṛḍhāṅgaṃ supratiṣṭhitam | tatrainaṃ darśayiṣyāmi pūrvapretānpitāmahān | tvaddarśanasamutthena kāmenākulitendriyam

In it there is a bed, timid one, sturdy and firmly set. There I will show him his forefathers who have died before him, him whose senses are thrown into turmoil by the desire that the sight of you has roused.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 4.21.4; line 3 is the CE apparatus 4.21.4d*0409, line 1 (reading kāmarāgeṇa mohitam). Wikisource tags this third line "4-24-4c", a typo for 4-25-4c; the line belongs to this verse and is kept.

Verse 5 (4.25.5)

संकेतं सूतपुत्रस्य कारयस्व शुभानने । यथा परे न पश्येयुः कुर्वन्तीं तेन संविदम् ॥

saṃketaṃ sūtaputrasya kārayasva śubhānane | yathā pare na paśyeyuḥ kurvantīṃ tena saṃvidam

Arrange a meeting-place for the Suta's son, lovely-faced one, so that others do not see you making the appointment with him.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.21.4d*0409, line 2; line 2 is a variant of CE 4.21.5ab.

Verse 6 (4.25.6)

तथा कुरुष्व कल्याणि यथा सन्निहितो भवेत् । तथा कुर्याश्च संकेतं सूतपुत्रस्य संवृतम् ॥

tathā kuruṣva kalyāṇi yathā sannihito bhavet | tathā kuryāśca saṃketaṃ sūtaputrasya saṃvṛtam

Act so, fair one, that he will be there at hand, and make the appointment with the Suta's son in secret.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 4.21.5cd; line 2 appears nowhere in the critical edition (vulgate-only).

Verse 7 (4.25.7)

आवयोः संगमं भीरु यथा मर्त्यो न बुध्यति । कीचकस्य विनाशाय तथा कुरु नृपात्मजे ॥

āvayoḥ saṃgamaṃ bhīru yathā martyo na budhyati | kīcakasya vināśāya tathā kuru nṛpātmaje

For the destruction of Kichaka, princess, act in such a way that no mortal comes to know of our meeting, timid one.

Note on the text: Corrected मार्त्यो → मर्त्यो (misprint in Wikisource; मार्त्य is no word, the sense is "mortal"; the apparatus reads martyo). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.5d*0410 (reading vināśasya for विनाशाय).

Verse 8 (4.25.8)

तत्र तौ कथयित्वा तु बाष्पमुत्सृज्य दुःखितौ । रात्रिशेषं तमत्युग्रं धारयामासतुर्हृदि ॥

tatra tau kathayitvā tu bāṣpamutsṛjya duḥkhitau | rātriśeṣaṃ tamatyugraṃ dhārayāmāsaturhṛdi

When they had talked together there, the two shed tears in their grief, and they bore in their hearts what remained of that dreadful night.

Verse 9 (4.25.9)

भीमेन च प्रतिज्ञाते कीचकस्य वधे तदा । द्रौपदी च सुदेष्णायाः प्रविवेश पुनर्गृहम् ॥

bhīmena ca pratijñāte kīcakasya vadhe tadā | draupadī ca sudeṣṇāyāḥ praviveśa punargṛham

Once Bhima had pledged himself to kill Kichaka, Draupadi went back into Sudeshna's quarters.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.6b*0412, where it falls between the two lines of 4.21.6.

Verse 10 (4.25.10)

तस्यां रजन्यां व्युष्टायां प्रातरुत्थाय कीचकः । गत्वा राजकुलायैव द्रौपदीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

tasyāṃ rajanyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ prātarutthāya kīcakaḥ | gatvā rājakulāyaiva draupadīmidamabravīt

When that night had passed, Kichaka rose at dawn, went to the royal palace, and said this to Draupadi:

Verse 11 (4.25.11)

यत्त्वाऽहं पश्यतो राज्ञः पातयित्वा पदाऽहनम् । न कंचिल्लभसे नाथमभिपन्ना बलीयसा ॥

yattvā'haṃ paśyato rājñaḥ pātayitvā padā'hanam | na kaṃcillabhase nāthamabhipannā balīyasā

I threw you down and kicked you while the king looked on, and, overpowered by one stronger than you, you found no protector at all.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; Kichaka's speech (verses 11–16), announced in verse 10, is assigned to him (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 12 (4.25.12)

प्रवादेन तु मात्स्यानामयं राजेति चोच्यते । अहमेव हि राजा वै मात्स्यानां वाहिनीपतिः ॥

pravādena tu mātsyānāmayaṃ rājeti cocyate | ahameva hi rājā vai mātsyānāṃ vāhinīpatiḥ

Among the Matsyas this man is called king only by common report. It is I who am truly the king of the Matsyas, the commander of their army.

Verse 13 (4.25.13)

सा सुखं प्रतिपद्यस्व दासो भीरु भवामि ते । न ह्यहं त्वामृते भीरु चिरं जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥

sā sukhaṃ pratipadyasva dāso bhīru bhavāmi te | na hyahaṃ tvāmṛte bhīru ciraṃ jīvitumutsahe

So accept me and be happy; timid one, I will be your slave. For without you, timid one, I cannot bear to live much longer.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 4.21.10ab; line 2 is the CE apparatus 4.21.10b*0413.

Verse 14 (4.25.14)

अहन्यहनि सुश्रोणि शतनिष्कं ददामि ते । दासीशतं च ते दद्यां दासानामपि चापरम् ॥

ahanyahani suśroṇi śataniṣkaṃ dadāmi te | dāsīśataṃ ca te dadyāṃ dāsānāmapi cāparam

Day after day, lovely-hipped one, I will give you a hundred nishkas of gold. I would give you a hundred maidservants, and as many menservants besides,

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 4.21.10cd; line 2 is CE 4.21.11ab.

Verse 15 (4.25.15)

रथांश्चाश्वतरीयुक्तानस्तु नौ भीरु संगमः । सुदासानां सहस्रं च महिषाणां सहस्रकम् ॥

rathāṃścāśvatarīyuktānastu nau bhīru saṃgamaḥ | sudāsānāṃ sahasraṃ ca mahiṣāṇāṃ sahasrakam

and chariots yoked with she-mules (only let us be united, timid one), a thousand good servants and a thousand buffaloes,

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 4.21.11cd; line 2 appears nowhere in the critical edition (vulgate-only).

Verse 16 (4.25.16)

अन्तःपुरसहस्रं च हेमकूटसहस्रकम् । तुभ्यं दास्यामि सर्वाणि राजार्हाण्यम्बराणि च ॥

antaḥpurasahasraṃ ca hemakūṭasahasrakam | tubhyaṃ dāsyāmi sarvāṇi rājārhāṇyambarāṇi ca

a thousand women for your inner apartments, a thousand heaps of gold: all these I will give you, and garments fit for a king.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Line 1 appears nowhere in the critical edition; line 2 corresponds to its apparatus 4.21.11d*0414 (reading aparāṇi for अम्बराणि).

Verse 17 (4.25.17)

एतन्मे वचनं सत्यं प्रतिपद्यस्व कीचक । न ते सखा वा भ्राता वा जानीयात्संगमं मया ॥

etanme vacanaṃ satyaṃ pratipadyasva kīcaka | na te sakhā vā bhrātā vā jānīyātsaṃgamaṃ mayā

Agree truly to this word of mine, Kichaka: neither your friend nor your brother must know of your union with me.

Verse 18 (4.25.18)

अनुप्रवादाद्भीताऽस्मि गन्धर्वाणां यशस्विनाम् । अनुबोधादनर्थः स्यादयशश्च महद्भवेत् । एतन्मे प्रतिजानीहि ततोऽहं वशगा तव ॥

anupravādādbhītā'smi gandharvāṇāṃ yaśasvinām | anubodhādanarthaḥ syādayaśaśca mahadbhavet | etanme pratijānīhi tato'haṃ vaśagā tava

I am afraid of what the glorious Gandharvas would hear said; if it became known, harm would follow and great disgrace as well. Promise me this, and then I am yours to command.

Note on the text: Corrected अनुबोधाद्गनर्थः → अनुबोधादनर्थः (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ग breaks the word अनर्थः; the apparatus reads anubodhād anarthaḥ) and महद्भवेत → महद्भवेत् (missing virama). Line 2 is the CE apparatus 4.21.12d*0416; lines 1 and 3 are a variant of CE 4.21.13.

Verse 19 (4.25.19)

एवमेतत्करिष्यामि यथा सुश्रोणि भाषसे । एकोऽहमागमिष्यामि शून्यमावसथं तव ॥

evametatkariṣyāmi yathā suśroṇi bhāṣase | eko'hamāgamiṣyāmi śūnyamāvasathaṃ tava

I will do just as you say, lovely-hipped one. I will come alone to your empty dwelling

Verse 20 (4.25.20)

समागमार्थं रम्भोरु त्वया मदनदर्पितः । यथा त्वां नैव पश्येयुर्गन्धर्वाः सूर्यवर्चसः ॥

samāgamārthaṃ rambhoru tvayā madanadarpitaḥ | yathā tvāṃ naiva paśyeyurgandharvāḥ sūryavarcasaḥ

to be united with you, you of the lovely thighs, mad with desire, and in such a way that the Gandharvas, bright as the sun, will not see you.

Verse 21 (4.25.21)

यदेतन्नर्तनागारं मात्स्यराजेन कारितम् । दिवात्र कन्या नृत्यन्ति रात्रौ यान्ति स्वकं गृहं ॥

yadetannartanāgāraṃ mātsyarājena kāritam | divātra kanyā nṛtyanti rātrau yānti svakaṃ gṛhaṃ

This dancing hall that the king of the Matsyas has had built: by day the maidens dance in it, and at night they go to their own homes.

Verse 22 (4.25.22)

निशायां तत्र गच्छेथा गन्धर्वास्तन्न जानते । तत्र दोषः परिहृतो भविष्यति न संशयः ॥

niśāyāṃ tatra gacchethā gandharvāstanna jānate | tatra doṣaḥ parihṛto bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

Go there at night; the Gandharvas do not know of it. In that way the danger will be avoided, there is no doubt.

Verse 23 (4.25.23)

एकस्त्वं नर्तनागारं रात्रौ संकेतमाव्रज । तत्राहं भविता तुभ्यं वशगा नात्र संशयः ॥

ekastvaṃ nartanāgāraṃ rātrau saṃketamāvraja | tatrāhaṃ bhavitā tubhyaṃ vaśagā nātra saṃśayaḥ

Come alone to the dancing hall at night, to the place we have agreed on. There I shall be yours to command; of that there is no doubt.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.17d*0417, lines 1–2 (reading ekaḥ san for एकस्त्वं).

Verse 24 (4.25.24)

तथा भद्रे करिष्यामि यथा त्वं भीरु वक्ष्यसि । एकः सन्नर्तनागारमागमिष्यामि भामिनि । समागमार्थं सुश्रोणि शपे च सुकृतेन मे ॥

tathā bhadre kariṣyāmi yathā tvaṃ bhīru vakṣyasi | ekaḥ sannartanāgāramāgamiṣyāmi bhāmini | samāgamārthaṃ suśroṇi śape ca sukṛtena me

I will do just as you tell me, good lady, timid one. I will come alone to the dancing hall, beautiful one, to be united with you, lovely-hipped one; I swear it by my own good deeds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.17d*0417, lines 3–5 (reading manyase for वक्ष्यसि and śobhane for भामिनि).

Verse 25 (4.25.25)

यथा त्वां नावबुध्यन्ति गन्धर्वा वरवर्णिनि । सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि गन्धर्वेभ्यो न ते भयम् । अलंकरिष्याम्यद्याहं त्वत्समागमनाय वै ॥

yathā tvāṃ nāvabudhyanti gandharvā varavarṇini | satyaṃ te pratijānāmi gandharvebhyo na te bhayam | alaṃkariṣyāmyadyāhaṃ tvatsamāgamanāya vai

And I will come so that the Gandharvas do not find you out, lovely one. I promise you truly: you need have no fear of the Gandharvas. Today I will adorn myself for my meeting with you,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.17d*0417, lines 6–8 (reading nāvabudhyante for नावबुध्यन्ति).

Verse 26 (4.25.26)

वासांसि च विचित्राणि मनोज्ञानि तवापि च । यथा मां न त्यजेथास्त्वं तथा रंस्ये त्वया सह ॥

vāsāṃsi ca vicitrāṇi manojñāni tavāpi ca | yathā māṃ na tyajethāstvaṃ tathā raṃsye tvayā saha

and I will bring fine garments of many colours for you too. I will take my pleasure with you in such a way that you will never leave me.

Note on the text: Corrected तथ → तथा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, which also leaves the quarter a syllable short; the apparatus reads tathā). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.17d*0418, lines 1–2 (reading yathāhaṃ for यथा मां); the apparatus gives the second line to Draupadi, but Wikisource keeps both lines in Kichaka's speech.

Verse 27 (4.25.27)

तथा चेदप्यहं सूत दर्शयिष्यामि ते सुखम् । यन्नानुभूतं भवता जन्मप्रभृति कीचक ॥

tathā cedapyahaṃ sūta darśayiṣyāmi te sukham | yannānubhūtaṃ bhavatā janmaprabhṛti kīcaka

If that is so, Suta, I too will show you a pleasure such as you have never known since the day you were born, Kichaka.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.17d*0418, lines 3–4.

Verse 28 (4.25.28)

तमर्थमपि जल्पन्त्या द्रौपद्याः कीचकस्य ह । क्षणमात्रं तदभवन्मासेनैव समं नृप ॥

tamarthamapi jalpantyā draupadyāḥ kīcakasya ha | kṣaṇamātraṃ tadabhavanmāsenaiva samaṃ nṛpa

As Draupadi talked of this with Kichaka, a single moment seemed to her, and to him, as long as a month, O king.

Verse 29 (4.25.29)

कीचकोऽथ गृहं गत्वा भृशं हर्षपरिप्लुतः । सैरन्ध्रीरूपिणीं मूढो मृत्युं तां नावबुद्धवान् ॥

kīcako'tha gṛhaṃ gatvā bhṛśaṃ harṣapariplutaḥ | sairandhrīrūpiṇīṃ mūḍho mṛtyuṃ tāṃ nāvabuddhavān

Then Kichaka went home, overflowing with joy. The fool did not see that she, in the form of a sairandhri, was his death.

Verse 30 (4.25.30)

गन्धाभरणमाल्येषु व्यासक्तः स विशेषतः । अलंचक्रे तदाऽऽत्मानं सत्वरः काममोहितः ॥

gandhābharaṇamālyeṣu vyāsaktaḥ sa viśeṣataḥ | alaṃcakre tadā''tmānaṃ satvaraḥ kāmamohitaḥ

Wholly absorbed in perfumes, ornaments and garlands, he hurriedly adorned himself, bewildered by desire.

Verse 31 (4.25.31)

तस्य तत्कुर्वतः कर्म कालो दीर्घ इवाभवत् । अनुचिन्तयतश्चापि तामेवायतलोचनाम् ॥

tasya tatkurvataḥ karma kālo dīrgha ivābhavat | anucintayataścāpi tāmevāyatalocanām

As he went about this task, thinking all the while of that long-eyed woman, the time seemed to him very long.

Verse 32 (4.25.32)

आसीदभ्यधिका चापि श्रीः श्रियं प्रमुमुक्षतः । निर्वाणकाले दीपस्य वर्तीमिव दिधक्षतः ॥

āsīdabhyadhikā cāpi śrīḥ śriyaṃ pramumukṣataḥ | nirvāṇakāle dīpasya vartīmiva didhakṣataḥ

His splendour grew even greater just as he was about to lose all splendour, like the wick of a lamp that flares up as it is about to go out.

Verse 33 (4.25.33)

कृतसंप्रत्ययस्तस्याः कीचकः काममोहितः । नाजानात्पतनं स्वस्य चिन्तयंस्तां शुभाननाम् ॥

kṛtasaṃpratyayastasyāḥ kīcakaḥ kāmamohitaḥ | nājānātpatanaṃ svasya cintayaṃstāṃ śubhānanām

Trusting her word and bewildered by desire, Kichaka thought only of that fair-faced woman and did not see his own fall coming.

Verse 34 (4.25.34)

ततस्तु द्रौपदी गत्वा भीमसेनं महानसे । उपातिष्ठत कल्याणी कौरव्यं पतिमन्तिकात् ॥

tatastu draupadī gatvā bhīmasenaṃ mahānase | upātiṣṭhata kalyāṇī kauravyaṃ patimantikāt

Then the fair Draupadi went to the kitchen and stood near Bhimasena, her husband of the Kuru line.

Verse 35 (4.25.35)

तमुवाच सुकेशान्ता कीचकस्य कृतो मया । सङ्गमो नर्तनागारे यथाऽवोचः परन्तप ॥

tamuvāca sukeśāntā kīcakasya kṛto mayā | saṅgamo nartanāgāre yathā'vocaḥ parantapa

She of the lovely tresses said to him: "I have arranged Kichaka's meeting in the dancing hall, as you told me, scorcher of foes.

Verse 36 (4.25.36)

कालेन नियतं बद्धः कामेन च बलात्कृतः । शून्यं स नर्तनागारमागमिष्यति कीचकः । एको निशि महाबाहो कीचकं तं निषूदय ॥

kālena niyataṃ baddhaḥ kāmena ca balātkṛtaḥ | śūnyaṃ sa nartanāgāramāgamiṣyati kīcakaḥ | eko niśi mahābāho kīcakaṃ taṃ niṣūdaya

Bound fast by Time and driven by desire, Kichaka will come alone at night to the empty dancing hall. Kill that Kichaka, mighty-armed one.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.21.25d*0420; lines 2–3 are CE 4.21.26. No speaker heading in Wikisource; Draupadi's words (verses 36–39), begun in verse 35, are assigned to her (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 37 (4.25.37)

तं सूतपुत्रं कौन्तेय कीचकं मददर्पितम् । गत्वा त्वं नर्तनागारं निर्जीवं कुरु पाण्डव ॥

taṃ sūtaputraṃ kaunteya kīcakaṃ madadarpitam | gatvā tvaṃ nartanāgāraṃ nirjīvaṃ kuru pāṇḍava

Go to the dancing hall, son of Kunti, and take the life of that Kichaka, the Suta's son, drunk with pride, O Pandava.

Note on the text: Corrected मूतपुत्रं → सूतपुत्रं (misprint in Wikisource; म for स; the critical edition reads sūtaputraṃ).

Verse 38 (4.25.38)

गर्वितः सूतपुत्रोऽसौ गन्धर्वानवमन्यते । स त्वं प्रहरतांश्रेष्ठ नालं नाग इवोद्धर ॥

garvitaḥ sūtaputro'sau gandharvānavamanyate | sa tvaṃ praharatāṃśreṣṭha nālaṃ nāga ivoddhara

Swollen with pride, that son of a Suta despises the Gandharvas. Best of fighters, pull him up as an elephant pulls up a lotus stalk.

Note on the text: Corrected मूतपुत्रोऽसौ → सूतपुत्रोऽसौ (misprint in Wikisource; म for स; the critical edition reads sūtaputro 'sau).

Verse 39 (4.25.39)

अस्रं दुःखाभिभूताया मम मार्जस्व भारत । बाहुवीर्यानुरूपं च दर्शयाद्य पराक्रमम् । आत्मनश्चैव भद्रं ते कुरु मानं कुलस्य च ॥

asraṃ duḥkhābhibhūtāyā mama mārjasva bhārata | bāhuvīryānurūpaṃ ca darśayādya parākramam | ātmanaścaiva bhadraṃ te kuru mānaṃ kulasya ca

Wipe away my tears, O Bharata, for I am overwhelmed by grief, and show today a valour worthy of the strength of your arms. Blessings on you: uphold your own honour and the honour of your family."

Note on the text: Lines 1 and 3 are CE 4.21.29; line 2 is the CE apparatus 4.21.29b*0421.

Verse 40 (4.25.40)

स्वागतं ते वरारोहे यन्मां वेदयसे प्रियम् । नह्यस्य कंचिदिच्छामि सहायं वरवर्णिनि ॥

svāgataṃ te varārohe yanmāṃ vedayase priyam | nahyasya kaṃcidicchāmi sahāyaṃ varavarṇini

Welcome, lovely one, for you bring me welcome news. I want no one to help me against him, fair one.

Verse 41 (4.25.41)

सा मे प्रीतिस्त्वयाऽऽख्याता कीचकस्य समागमे । हत्वा हिडिम्बं या प्रीतिर्ममासीत्सा शुचिस्मिते ॥

sā me prītistvayā''khyātā kīcakasya samāgame | hatvā hiḍimbaṃ yā prītirmamāsītsā śucismite

The joy you have given me with news of this meeting with Kichaka is the same joy I felt when I killed Hidimba, you of the pure smile.

Verse 42 (4.25.42)

सत्यं भ्रातॄंश्च पुत्रांश्च पुरस्कृत्य शपामि ते । कीचकं निहनिष्यामि वृत्रं देवपतिर्यथा ॥

satyaṃ bhrātṝṃśca putrāṃśca puraskṛtya śapāmi te | kīcakaṃ nihaniṣyāmi vṛtraṃ devapatiryathā

I swear to you truly, placing my brothers and my sons before me: I will slay Kichaka as the lord of the gods slew Vritra.

Verse 43 (4.25.43)

प्रसह्य निहनिष्यामि केशवः केशिनं यथा । रहस्यं वा प्रकाशं वा सूदयिष्यामि कीचकम् ॥

prasahya nihaniṣyāmi keśavaḥ keśinaṃ yathā | rahasyaṃ vā prakāśaṃ vā sūdayiṣyāmi kīcakam

I will kill him by force, as Keshava killed Keshin. In secret or in the open, I will slay Kichaka.

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.21.32d*0422 (reading sūdayiṣyāmi for निहनिष्यामि); line 2 is a variant of CE 4.21.33ab.

Verse 44 (4.25.44)

अहं भद्रे हनिष्यामि कीचकं मदनान्वितम् । यस्त्वां कामाभिभूतात्मा दुर्लभामभिमन्यते ॥

ahaṃ bhadre haniṣyāmi kīcakaṃ madanānvitam | yastvāṃ kāmābhibhūtātmā durlabhāmabhimanyate

I will kill Kichaka, good lady, that man possessed by lust, who, his mind overcome by desire, covets you though you are beyond his reach.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.33b*0423.

Verse 45 (4.25.45)

अथ चेदवबुध्यन्ति सूतपुत्रं मया हतम् । निर्मनुष्यं करिष्यामि मत्स्यानामिदमालयम् ॥

atha cedavabudhyanti sūtaputraṃ mayā hatam | nirmanuṣyaṃ kariṣyāmi matsyānāmidamālayam

And if they find out that the Suta's son was killed by me, I will empty this home of the Matsyas of every man.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.33d*0424 (reading anubudhyanti for अवबुध्यन्ति and imam for इदम्).

Verse 46 (4.25.46)

मया हतांश्चेन्मात्स्यांस्तु धार्तराष्ट्रो विबुध्यति । दुर्योधनं ततो हत्वा सानुबन्धं सबान्धवम् । कुरूणामखिलं राज्यं प्रतिपत्स्यामि भामिनि ॥

mayā hatāṃścenmātsyāṃstu dhārtarāṣṭro vibudhyati | duryodhanaṃ tato hatvā sānubandhaṃ sabāndhavam | kurūṇāmakhilaṃ rājyaṃ pratipatsyāmi bhāmini

And if Dhritarashtra's son learns that the Matsyas have been killed by me, then I will kill Duryodhana with his followers and kinsmen and take the whole kingdom of the Kurus, beautiful one.

Note on the text: Corrected कुरुणाम् → कुरूणाम् (misprint in Wikisource; the genitive plural of कुरु has a long ū; the apparatus reads kurūṇām). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.34b*0425 (reading 'nubudhyati for विबुध्यति).

Verse 47 (4.25.47)

नाहं शक्तोऽनुनयितुं कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । कामं सत्यमुपासीत कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । काममन्ये ह्युपासन्तु विनीता धर्मचारिणः ॥

nāhaṃ śakto'nunayituṃ kuntīputraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | kāmaṃ satyamupāsīta kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | kāmamanye hyupāsantu vinītā dharmacāriṇaḥ

I cannot go on humouring Kunti's son Yudhishthira. Let Kunti's son Yudhishthira hold to truth as much as he likes, and let others too, disciplined men who walk in dharma, hold to it as they please;

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.21.34b*0426 (reading śakṣye for शक्तो); line 2 is a variant of CE 4.21.34cd, which reads matsyam ("the Matsya king") for सत्यम्; line 3 is the apparatus 4.21.34d*0427, line 1.

Verse 48 (4.25.48)

त्वां तु दुःखमिदं प्राप्तां नाहं शक्नोम्युपेक्षितुम् । निर्वृता भव पाञ्चालि कीचकस्य वधात्पुनः ॥

tvāṃ tu duḥkhamidaṃ prāptāṃ nāhaṃ śaknomyupekṣitum | nirvṛtā bhava pāñcāli kīcakasya vadhātpunaḥ

but I cannot stand by and watch you suffer this grief. Be at peace again, Panchali, through the death of Kichaka.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.34d*0427, lines 2–3.

Verse 49 (4.25.49)

कीचकस्य वधं भीम यदि जानन्ति नागराः । त्वया कृतं महाबाहो नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ॥

kīcakasya vadhaṃ bhīma yadi jānanti nāgarāḥ | tvayā kṛtaṃ mahābāho nāhaṃ jīvitumutsahe

If the townsfolk learn, Bhima, that Kichaka's killing was your doing, mighty-armed one, I do not wish to live.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.35*0428 (reading yadi jīvitum atsahe for नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे).

Verse 50 (4.25.50)

कथं सत्याच्च नापेयाद्राजाऽयं मत्कृते प्रभो । निशि गूढं तथा भीम कीचकं तं निपातय ॥

kathaṃ satyācca nāpeyādrājā'yaṃ matkṛte prabho | niśi gūḍhaṃ tathā bhīma kīcakaṃ taṃ nipātaya

Take care, my lord, that the king does not fall from his truth because of me. So kill that Kichaka by night, in secret, Bhima.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.21.35, which reads differently in both lines.

Verse 51 (4.25.51)

अनुबुद्धे हि कौन्तेयो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः । पुनर्वनं व्रजेद्धीमाननुजैः परिवारितः ॥

anubuddhe hi kaunteyo dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | punarvanaṃ vrajeddhīmānanujaiḥ parivāritaḥ

For once it is discovered, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, the wise king of dharma, would go back to the forest with his younger brothers around him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.35d*0429, lines 1–2 (reading anubuddhed dhi for अनुबुद्धे हि).

Verse 52 (4.25.52)

कश्च धर्मपरं ज्येष्ठमतिवर्तेत भारत । भीम भीताऽस्मि संबोधात्साधु मा चापलं कृथाः ॥

kaśca dharmaparaṃ jyeṣṭhamativarteta bhārata | bhīma bhītā'smi saṃbodhātsādhu mā cāpalaṃ kṛthāḥ

And who would go against his eldest brother, devoted to dharma, O Bharata? Bhima, I fear discovery; please, do not act rashly.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.35d*0429, lines 3–4 (reading śreṣṭham for ज्येष्ठम्).

Verse 53 (4.25.53)

यथा न कश्चिज्जानीते सूतपुत्रं त्वया हतम् । तथा कुरुष्व कौरव्य बलवन्नरिमर्दन । अदृश्यमानस्त्वं तस्य भिन्धि प्राणानरिन्दम ॥

yathā na kaścijjānīte sūtaputraṃ tvayā hatam | tathā kuruṣva kauravya balavannarimardana | adṛśyamānastvaṃ tasya bhindhi prāṇānarindama

Act, mighty Kaurava, crusher of foes, so that no one knows the Suta's son was killed by you. Unseen by him, tamer of enemies, cut off his life.

Note on the text: Corrected कश्चिञ्जानीते → कश्चिज्जानीते (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, t + j gives ज्ज; the apparatus reads kaś cij jānīte) and अदृश्यमानस्त्वंतस्य → अदृश्यमानस्त्वं तस्य (missing word space). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.21.35d*0430.