Shloka 21
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 25: Kaurava Deliberation and the Search Directive (अन्वेषण-आदेशः)
स हत: पतितः: शेते गन्धर्वर्नेशि भारत । अदृश्यमानैर्दुष्टात्मा भ्रातृभि: सह सोदरै:
sa hataḥ patitaḥ śete gandharvair neśi bhārata | adṛśyamānair duṣṭātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ saha sodaraiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Bhārata, he has been slain and has fallen; he lies there, killed by the Gandharvas. That wicked-souled man was put to death at night, unseen, together with his own brothers.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the fall of a “duṣṭātmā” as a morally charged consequence: wrongdoing—especially predatory abuse of power—invites decisive correction. It also highlights restraint and prudence in upholding dharma: the act is carried out secretly at night, protecting larger social order while removing a dangerous offender.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Kīcaka has been killed and now lies fallen. The killing is attributed to “Gandharvas,” and it occurred at night, unseen, along with his brothers—reflecting the story’s device of concealing the Pandavas’ involvement during their incognito stay in Virāṭa’s court.