Shloka 1
Kīcaka-vadha-pratisaṃjñā: Rumor in Matsya and the Kaurava Scouts’ Report (कीचकवध-प्रतिसंज्ञा)
हि आय न [हुक है - दोनों हाथोंको फैलानेपर जितनी लंबाई होती है, उसे एक व्याम कहते हैं। चतुर्विशो$ध्याय: द्रोपदीका राजमहलमें लौटकर आना और बृहन्नला एवं सुदेष्णासे उसकी बातचीत वैशम्पायन उवाच ते दृष्टवा निहतान् सूतान् राज्ञे गत्वा न्यवेदयन् । गन्धर्वर्निहता राजन् सूतपुत्रा महाबला:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! नगरवासियोंने सूतपुत्रोंका यह संहार देख राजा विराटके पास जाकर निवेदन किया--“महाराज! गन्धर्वोने महाबली सूतपुत्रोंको मार डाला
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | te dṛṣṭvā nihatān sūtān rājñe gatvā nyavedayan | gandharvair nihatā rājan sūtaputrā mahābalāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing the charioteers’ sons slain, the townspeople went to King Virāṭa and reported, “O King, the mighty sons of the charioteers have been killed by the Gandharvas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights civic and ethical responsibility: witnesses of harm in the kingdom should report truthfully to the ruler, enabling a dharmic response—protection of subjects and restoration of order.
After seeing the charioteers’ sons killed, the townspeople go to King Virāṭa and inform him that Gandharvas have slain the mighty sūtaputrās, initiating the king’s awareness of the crisis.