Shloka 5
Virāṭa’s Mobilization to Recover the Cattle (गोधनरक्षणार्थ विराटस्य सैन्यसमायोजनम्)
क्रूरोडमर्षी स दुष्टात्मा भुवि प्रख्यातविक्रम: । निहतः स तु गन्धर्वै: पापकर्मा नृशंसवान्,“वह दुष्टात्मा बहुत ही क्रूर और क्रोधी था। इस भूतलपर अपने पराक्रमके लिये उसकी सर्वत्र ख्याति थी। अब वह निर्दयी और पापाचारी कीचक गन्धर्वोद्धारा मार डाला गया है
krūro ’damarṣī sa duṣṭātmā bhuvi prakhyāta-vikramaḥ | nihataḥ sa tu gandharvaiḥ pāpa-karmā nṛśaṁsavān ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «Aquel hombre de alma perversa era cruel e iracundo; en esta tierra era célebre por su valor. Pero ahora Kīcaka, despiadado y dado a obras pecaminosas, ha sido abatido por los Gandharvas».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cruelty, intolerance, and sinful conduct—though sometimes masked by worldly fame—lead to downfall; ethical failure (adharma) invites retribution and loss of honor.
The narrator describes Kīcaka’s character as cruel and notorious yet renowned for prowess, and reports that he has now been killed—attributed here to the Gandharvas (in context, a narrative designation for the agents of his death).