The Spies Report Kichaka's Death to Duryodhana

Verse 1 (4.29.1)

कीचके तु हते राजा विराटः परवीरहा । शोकमाहारयत्तीव्रं सामात्यः सपुरोहितः ॥

kīcake tu hate rājā virāṭaḥ paravīrahā | śokamāhārayattīvraṃ sāmātyaḥ sapurohitaḥ

When Kichaka had been killed, King Virata, slayer of enemy heroes, fell into bitter grief, together with his ministers and his priest.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.1*0495 (before CE 4.24.1).

Verse 2 (4.29.2)

कीचकस्य वधं घोरं सानुजस्य विशांपते । अत्याहितं चिन्तयित्वा व्यस्मयन्त पृथग्जनाः ॥

kīcakasya vadhaṃ ghoraṃ sānujasya viśāṃpate | atyāhitaṃ cintayitvā vyasmayanta pṛthagjanāḥ

O lord of the people, as they thought over the dreadful killing of Kichaka and his younger brothers, a calamity no one had foreseen, the common people were struck with amazement.

Verse 3 (4.29.3)

तस्मिन्पुरे जनपदे जजल्पुश्चापि सर्वशः । वीर्यवान्दयितो राज्ञो दर्पोत्सिक्तश्च कीचकः ॥

tasminpure janapade jajalpuścāpi sarvaśaḥ | vīryavāndayito rājño darpotsiktaśca kīcakaḥ

In that city and throughout the countryside people talked of it everywhere: 'Kichaka was a man of great prowess, dear to the king, and swollen with pride.'

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 4.24.2, which reads differently in both lines (saṃjalpo 'bhūc ca sarvaśaḥ / śauryād dhi vallabho rājño mahāsattvaś ca kīcakaḥ).

Verse 4 (4.29.4)

सांपराये परिक्रुष्टो बलवान्दुर्जयो रणे । आसीत्प्रहर्ता शत्रूणां दारदर्शी च दुर्मतिः । स हतः किल गन्धर्वैः सैरन्ध्रीकारणान्निशि ॥

sāṃparāye parikruṣṭo balavāndurjayo raṇe | āsītprahartā śatrūṇāṃ dāradarśī ca durmatiḥ | sa hataḥ kila gandharvaiḥ sairandhrīkāraṇānniśi

'Renowned in battle, mighty and hard to defeat in the fight, he was a smiter of enemies — but he was wicked-minded and cast his eyes on other men's wives. They say the Gandharvas killed him at night on account of the Sairandhri.'

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.24.2d*0496; lines 2–3 are a variant of CE 4.24.3 (dārāmarśī for दारदर्शी; its last line reads sa hataḥ khalu pāpātmā gandharvair duṣṭapūruṣaḥ).

Verse 5 (4.29.5)

इत्यजल्पन्महाराज कीचकस्य विनाशनम् । देशेदेशे मनुष्याश्च विस्मिताः कीचके हते ॥

ityajalpanmahārāja kīcakasya vināśanam | deśedeśe manuṣyāśca vismitāḥ kīcake hate

Thus, great king, people in land after land talked of the destruction of Kichaka, amazed that Kichaka had been slain.

Note on the text: Corrected विस्मितः → विस्मिताः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign — the adjective must agree with मनुष्याः). The verse is a variant of CE 4.24.4 (parānīkaviśātanam … kīcakaṃ duṣpradharṣaṇam).

Verse 6 (4.29.6)

अथ वै धार्तराष्ट्रेण प्रयुक्ता ये बहिश्चराः । मृगयित्वा बहून्देशान्ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च ॥

atha vai dhārtarāṣṭreṇa prayuktā ye bahiścarāḥ | mṛgayitvā bahūndeśāngrāmāṃśca nagarāṇi ca

Meanwhile the spies whom Dhritarashtra's son had sent out, having searched through many lands, villages and cities,

Note on the text: Corrected वैः → वै (misprint in Wikisource; stray visarga on the particle; the CE reads atha vai).

Verse 7 (4.29.7)

संविधाय यथाऽऽदिष्टं यथादेशं प्रदर्शकाः । कृतसंकेतनाः सर्वे न्यवर्तन्त पुरं ततः ॥

saṃvidhāya yathā''diṣṭaṃ yathādeśaṃ pradarśakāḥ | kṛtasaṃketanāḥ sarve nyavartanta puraṃ tataḥ

having done what they had been ordered to do, each scouting the region assigned to him, all of them, as they had agreed among themselves, turned back toward the city.

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.24.6 (yathādeśapradarśanam / kṛtacintā nyavartanta te ca nāgapuraṃ prati).

Verse 8 (4.29.8)

आगम्य हास्तिनपुरं धार्तराष्ट्रमरिन्दमम् । तत्र दृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कौरव्यं धृतराष्ट्रजम् ॥

āgamya hāstinapuraṃ dhārtarāṣṭramarindamam | tatra dṛṣṭvā tu rājānaṃ kauravyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrajam

Coming to Hastinapura, to Dhritarashtra's son, the tamer of foes, they saw there the king, the Kaurava born of Dhritarashtra,

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.24.6d*0497; line 2 is CE 4.24.7ab.

Verse 9 (4.29.9)

द्रोणकर्णकृपैः सार्धं भीष्मेण च महात्मना । संगतं भ्रातृभिः सार्धं त्रिगर्तैश्च महारथैः ॥

droṇakarṇakṛpaiḥ sārdhaṃ bhīṣmeṇa ca mahātmanā | saṃgataṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṃ trigartaiśca mahārathaiḥ

seated with Drona, Karna and Kripa and the great-souled Bhishma, in the company of his brothers and of the Trigartas, great chariot-warriors.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 4.24.7cd; line 2 is CE 4.24.8ab (bhrātṛbhiś cāpi for भ्रातृभिः सार्धं).

Verse 10 (4.29.10)

प्रणम्य शिरसा भूमौ वर्धयित्वा जयाशिषा । आसीनं सूर्यसंकाशे काञ्चने परमासने ॥

praṇamya śirasā bhūmau vardhayitvā jayāśiṣā | āsīnaṃ sūryasaṃkāśe kāñcane paramāsane

They bowed their heads to the ground and hailed him with wishes for victory — the king seated on a splendid golden throne that shone like the sun,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.7b*0498, lines 1–2.

Verse 11 (4.29.11)

उपास्यमानं सचिवैर्मरुद्भिरिव वासवम् । विद्वद्भिर्गायकैः सार्धं कविभिः स्तुतिपाठकैः ॥

upāsyamānaṃ sacivairmarudbhiriva vāsavam | vidvadbhirgāyakaiḥ sārdhaṃ kavibhiḥ stutipāṭhakaiḥ

attended by his ministers as Vasava (Indra) is by the Maruts, and by learned men, singers, poets and panegyrists,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus: line 1 is 4.24.7b*0498, line 3, and line 2 is 4.24.7d*0499, line 1.

Verse 12 (4.29.12)

अनेकैरपि राजन्यैः सेवितं सपरिच्छदैः । दुर्योधनं सभामध्ये आसीनमिदमब्रुवन् ॥

anekairapi rājanyaiḥ sevitaṃ saparicchadaiḥ | duryodhanaṃ sabhāmadhye āsīnamidamabruvan

and served by many princes with their retinues. To Duryodhana, seated in the midst of the assembly, they said this:

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.24.7d*0499, line 2; line 2 is CE 4.24.8cd.

Verse 13 (4.29.13)

कृतोऽस्माभिः परो यत्नस्तेषामन्वेषणे सदा । पाण्डवानां मनुष्येन्द्र तस्मिन्महति कानने ॥

kṛto'smābhiḥ paro yatnasteṣāmanveṣaṇe sadā | pāṇḍavānāṃ manuṣyendra tasminmahati kānane

Lord of men, we have made the utmost effort all along to search for the Pandavas in that great forest,

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 14 (4.29.14)

निर्जने व्यालसंकीर्णे नानाभ्रमरसंकुले । लताप्रतानगहने नानागुल्मसमावृते ॥

nirjane vyālasaṃkīrṇe nānābhramarasaṃkule | latāpratānagahane nānāgulmasamāvṛte

a forest without people, thronged with beasts of prey and humming with bees of many kinds, dense with spreading creepers and overgrown with every kind of shrub.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 15 (4.29.15)

न च विद्मो गता येन पार्थाः सुदृढविक्रमाः । मार्गमाणाः पदन्यासमाश्रमेषु वनेषु च ॥

na ca vidmo gatā yena pārthāḥ sudṛḍhavikramāḥ | mārgamāṇāḥ padanyāsamāśrameṣu vaneṣu ca

Yet we do not know which way the sons of Pritha, so firm in valour, have gone, though we tracked their footprints in hermitages and in forests,

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 16 (4.29.16)

गिरिकूटेषु तुङ्गेषु नानाजनपदेषु च । जनाकीर्णेषु देशेषु चत्वरेषु पुरेषु च ॥

girikūṭeṣu tuṅgeṣu nānājanapadeṣu ca | janākīrṇeṣu deśeṣu catvareṣu pureṣu ca

on lofty mountain peaks and in many lands, in populous districts, at crossroads and in cities.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 17 (4.29.17)

नरेन्द्र सहसा नष्टान्नैव विद्म च पाण्डवान् । अत्यन्तादर्शनान्नष्टा भद्रं तुभ्यं नरर्षभ ॥

narendra sahasā naṣṭānnaiva vidma ca pāṇḍavān | atyantādarśanānnaṣṭā bhadraṃ tubhyaṃ nararṣabha

O king, we know nothing at all of the Pandavas, who vanished all at once; they are lost, gone wholly out of sight. Good fortune to you, bull among men.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 18 (4.29.18)

गिरीणां कूटकुञ्जेषु कन्दरोदरसानुषु । नदीप्रस्रवणेष्वेव ह्रदेषु च सरस्सु च ॥

girīṇāṃ kūṭakuñjeṣu kandarodarasānuṣu | nadīprasravaṇeṣveva hradeṣu ca sarassu ca

In the thickets on the mountain peaks, in the hollows of caves and on the slopes, by rivers and springs, in lakes and in pools,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.13d*0500, lines 1–2. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 19 (4.29.19)

गह्वरेषु च दुर्गेषु ग्रामेषूपवनेषु च । दुर्विज्ञेया गतिस्तेषां मृग्यतेऽस्माभिरेव च । गजव्याघ्रसमीपेषु सिंहान्ते शरभान्तरे ॥

gahvareṣu ca durgeṣu grāmeṣūpavaneṣu ca | durvijñeyā gatisteṣāṃ mṛgyate'smābhireva ca | gajavyāghrasamīpeṣu siṃhānte śarabhāntare

in ravines and in strongholds, in villages and in groves — their trail is hard to discover, though we have searched for it, even near elephants and tigers, among lions and among sharabhas.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्रामेषू पवनेषु → ग्रामेषूपवनेषु (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space split ग्रामेषु + उपवनेषु "in villages and groves" into a false पवनेषु "in winds"; the apparatus reads grāmeṣūpavaneṣu). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.13d*0500, lines 3–5. Wikisource prints a double danda after line 2 but numbers all three lines as verse 19; kept as one verse. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 20 (4.29.20)

वर्त्मन्यन्विच्छमानास्तु रथानां रथिसत्तम । कंचित्कालं मनुष्येन्द्र सूताननुगता वयम् ॥

vartmanyanvicchamānāstu rathānāṃ rathisattama | kaṃcitkālaṃ manuṣyendra sūtānanugatā vayam

Searching along the tracks of the chariots, best of chariot-warriors, we followed their charioteers for some time, lord of men.

Note on the text: Corrected वत्मन्य → वर्त्मन्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र् — वर्त्मनि "on the tracks"; the CE reads vartmāny). Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 21 (4.29.21)

मृगयित्वा यथान्यायं विदितार्थाश्च तत्वतः । प्राप्ता द्वारवतीं सूता विना पार्थैः परंतप ॥

mṛgayitvā yathānyāyaṃ viditārthāśca tatvataḥ | prāptā dvāravatīṃ sūtā vinā pārthaiḥ paraṃtapa

Having tracked them as we should, we learned the truth: the charioteers reached Dvaraka without the sons of Pritha, scorcher of foes.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 22 (4.29.22)

न तत्र कृष्णा राजेन्द्र पाण्डवाश्च महाव्रताः । नरदेव यथोद्दिष्टं न च विद्मात्र पाण्डवान् ॥

na tatra kṛṣṇā rājendra pāṇḍavāśca mahāvratāḥ | naradeva yathoddiṣṭaṃ na ca vidmātra pāṇḍavān

Krishna is not there, king of kings, nor are the Pandavas of great vows. Lord of men, though we searched as you directed, we have found no trace of the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 4.24.16ab (na tatra pāṇḍavā rājan nāpi kṛṣṇā pativratā); line 2 is the CE apparatus 4.24.16b*0503, line 1. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 23 (4.29.23)

निर्वृतो भव नष्टास्ते स्वस्थो भव परंतप । सर्वथैव प्रणष्टास्ते नमस्ते भरतर्षभ ॥

nirvṛto bhava naṣṭāste svastho bhava paraṃtapa | sarvathaiva praṇaṣṭāste namaste bharatarṣabha

Be at ease: they are lost. Be content, scorcher of foes: they are lost beyond all finding. We bow to you, bull of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रनष्टास्ते → प्रणष्टास्ते (misprint in Wikisource; after प्र the न of नष्ट becomes ण; the CE reads vipranaṣṭās). Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.24.16b*0503, line 2; line 2 is CE 4.24.16cd. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 24 (4.29.24)

सर्वा च पृथिवी कृत्स्ना सशैलवनकानना । सराष्ट्रनगरग्रामा पत्तनैश्च समन्विता । अन्वेषिता च सर्वत्र न च पश्याम पाण्डवान् ॥

sarvā ca pṛthivī kṛtsnā saśailavanakānanā | sarāṣṭranagaragrāmā pattanaiśca samanvitā | anveṣitā ca sarvatra na ca paśyāma pāṇḍavān

The whole earth, with its mountains, woods and forests, with its kingdoms, cities and villages and its towns, has been searched everywhere, and we do not see the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Corrected पश्यामा → पश्याम (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; the apparatus reads paśyāma). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.17d*0504. CE 4.24.17abcd has no counterpart in Wikisource. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 25 (4.29.25)

पुनः शाधि मनुष्येन्द्र अत ऊर्ध्वं विशांपते । अन्वेषणे पाण्डवानां भूयः किं करवामहे ॥

punaḥ śādhi manuṣyendra ata ūrdhvaṃ viśāṃpate | anveṣaṇe pāṇḍavānāṃ bhūyaḥ kiṃ karavāmahe

Instruct us again, lord of men, ruler of the people: from here on, what more shall we do in the search for the Pandavas?

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE 4.24.17ef (sa naḥ śādhi for पुनः शाधि); line 2 is CE 4.24.18ab. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 26 (4.29.26)

इमां च नः प्रियां वीर वाचं भद्रवतीं शृणु ॥

imāṃ ca naḥ priyāṃ vīra vācaṃ bhadravatīṃ śṛṇu

And hear, hero, this pleasing and auspicious news of ours.

Note on the text: A single line in Wikisource (so printed, numbered 26); it is CE 4.24.18cd, which reads priyām īkṣa … śubhām for प्रियां वीर … शृणु. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 27 (4.29.27)

येन त्रिगर्ता निहता बलेन बहुशो नृप । सूतेन राज्ञो मत्स्यस्य कीचकेन बलीयसा । स हतः पतितः शेते गन्धर्वैर्निशि भारत ॥

yena trigartā nihatā balena bahuśo nṛpa | sūtena rājño matsyasya kīcakena balīyasā | sa hataḥ patitaḥ śete gandharvairniśi bhārata

King, the man whose might struck down the Trigartas many times, Kichaka, the powerful Suta of the king of the Matsyas, lies fallen, killed at night by the Gandharvas, Bharata.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are a variant of CE 4.24.19 (nikṛtā, mahatā, mahātmanā); line 3 is CE 4.24.20ab. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 28 (4.29.28)

स्यालो राज्ञो विराटस्य सेनापतिरुदारधीः । सुदेष्णायानुजः क्रूरः शूरो वीरो गतव्यथः ॥

syālo rājño virāṭasya senāpatirudāradhīḥ | sudeṣṇāyānujaḥ krūraḥ śūro vīro gatavyathaḥ

He was King Virata's brother-in-law and the commander of his army, a man of noble mind; Sudeshna's younger brother — fierce, brave, heroic, never shaken by fear;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20b*0505, lines 1–2. The apparatus calls him Sudeshna's elder brother (mahāñ jyeṣṭhaḥ); Wikisource reads अनुजः, "younger brother". Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 29 (4.29.29)

उत्साहवान्महावीर्यो नीतिमान्बलवानपि । युद्धज्ञो रिपुवीर्यघ्नः सिंहतुल्यपराक्रमः ॥

utsāhavānmahāvīryo nītimānbalavānapi | yuddhajño ripuvīryaghnaḥ siṃhatulyaparākramaḥ

energetic, of great valour, skilled in policy and strong as well, versed in war, a destroyer of the enemy's might, with prowess like a lion's;

Note on the text: Removed a stray क after रिपुवीर्यघ्नः (misprint in Wikisource; the apparatus reads ripuvīraghnaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20b*0505, lines 3–4. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 30 (4.29.30)

प्रजारक्षणदक्षश्च शत्रुग्रहणशक्तिमान् । विजितारिर्महायुद्धे प्रचण्डो मानतत्परः ॥

prajārakṣaṇadakṣaśca śatrugrahaṇaśaktimān | vijitārirmahāyuddhe pracaṇḍo mānatatparaḥ

able in protecting the people and capable of capturing enemies, a conqueror of foes in great battles, fierce and jealous of his honour;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20b*0505, lines 5–6. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 31 (4.29.31)

नरनारीमनोह्लादी धीरो वाग्मी रणप्रियः । पुण्यकर्माऽर्थकामानां भाजनं मनुजोत्तमः ॥

naranārīmanohlādī dhīro vāgmī raṇapriyaḥ | puṇyakarmā'rthakāmānāṃ bhājanaṃ manujottamaḥ

a delight to the hearts of men and women, steadfast, eloquent, a lover of battle, a doer of meritorious deeds, a vessel of wealth and pleasure — the best of men.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20b*0505, lines 7–8. The apparatus reads puṇyadharmārthakāmānāṃ ("of merit, dharma, wealth and pleasure"). Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 32 (4.29.32)

स हतो निशि गन्धर्वैः स्त्रीनिमित्तं नराधिप । अमृष्यमाणो दुष्टात्मा निशीथे सह सोदरैः । सुहृदश्चास्य निहता योधाश्च प्रहरैर्हताः ॥

sa hato niśi gandharvaiḥ strīnimittaṃ narādhipa | amṛṣyamāṇo duṣṭātmā niśīthe saha sodaraiḥ | suhṛdaścāsya nihatā yodhāśca praharairhatāḥ

He was killed at night by the Gandharvas on account of a woman, lord of men — the wicked man could not hold himself back — at midnight, together with his brothers; his friends were killed too, and his warriors were struck down by their blows.

Note on the text: Corrected गन्धैर्वः → गन्धर्वैः (misprint in Wikisource; transposed letters; the apparatus reads gandharvaiḥ). Line 1 is the CE apparatus 4.24.20b*0506; line 2 is a variant of CE 4.24.20cd (adṛśyamānair duṣṭātmā saha bhrātṛbhir acyuta); line 3 is the apparatus 4.24.20d*0508 (pravarā hatāḥ for प्रहरैर्हताः). Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 33 (4.29.33)

गन्धर्वाणां च महिषी काचिदस्ति नितम्बिनी । सैरन्ध्री नाम तां दृप्तो दुष्टात्माऽकामयद्बली ॥

gandharvāṇāṃ ca mahiṣī kācidasti nitambinī | sairandhrī nāma tāṃ dṛpto duṣṭātmā'kāmayadbalī

There is a certain queen of the Gandharvas, a woman with shapely hips, named Sairandhri. That arrogant, wicked strongman desired her.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20b*0507. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 34 (4.29.34)

इत्येवं श्रुतमस्माभिर्गन्धर्वैर्निहतो निशि ॥

ityevaṃ śrutamasmābhirgandharvairnihato niśi

This is what we have heard: he was killed by the Gandharvas at night.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20d*0509, line 1. A single line in Wikisource (so printed, numbered 34). Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 35 (4.29.35)

बान्धवैर्बहुभिः सार्धं कीचको निहतो यतः । अद्यप्रभृति राजेन्द्र पाण्डवान्वेषणं प्रति । चारांश्च सर्वतश्चर्तुं प्रेषयेति मतिर्हि नः ॥

bāndhavairbahubhiḥ sārdhaṃ kīcako nihato yataḥ | adyaprabhṛti rājendra pāṇḍavānveṣaṇaṃ prati | cārāṃśca sarvataścartuṃ preṣayeti matirhi naḥ

Since Kichaka has been killed along with many of his kinsmen, our counsel is this, king of kings: from today on, send spies out everywhere to search for the Pandavas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.24.20d*0509, lines 2–4. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 36 (4.29.36)

निहतो निशि गन्धर्वैर्दुष्टात्मा भ्रातृभिः सह । एतावच्छ्रुतमस्माभिर्भद्रं तेऽस्तु नराधिप ॥

nihato niśi gandharvairduṣṭātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | etāvacchrutamasmābhirbhadraṃ te'stu narādhipa

The wicked man was killed at night by the Gandharvas, together with his brothers. This much we have heard. Good fortune to you, lord of men.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus: line 1 is 4.24.20d*0509, line 5, and line 2 is 4.24.21b*0510. Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).

Verse 37 (4.29.37)

प्रियमेतदुपश्रुत्य शत्रूणां च पराभवम् । कृतकृत्यश्च कौरव्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम् ॥

priyametadupaśrutya śatrūṇāṃ ca parābhavam | kṛtakṛtyaśca kauravya vidhatsva yadanantaram

Now that you have heard this welcome news of your enemies' downfall, Kaurava, and your purpose is served, decide what is to be done next.

Note on the text: Speaker set to the spies: the verse is wholly their direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it (it carried वैशंपायन over it).