Mahabharata 4.23.33 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 23, Shloka 33
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 23: Report of the Slain Sūtaputras, Royal Orders, and Sairandhrī’s Return
एवं ते निहता राजछछतं पञठच च कीचका: । स च सेनापति: पूर्वमित्येतत् सूतबघट्शतम्,राजन! इस प्रकार वे एक सौ पाँच उपकीचक और पहले मरा हुआ सेनापति कीचक सब मिलकर एक सौ छ: सूतपुत्र मारे गये
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
evaṁ te nihatā rāja śataṁ pañca ca kīcakāḥ |
sa ca senāpatiḥ pūrvam ity etat sūtaputraśatam |
rājan |
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ! ഇങ്ങനെ ആ നൂറ്റഞ്ച് ഉപകീചകർ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; മുമ്പേ വധിക്കപ്പെട്ട സേനാപതി കീചകനും കൂടെ. അങ്ങനെ സൂതപുത്രന്മാർ ആകെ നൂറ്റാറുപേർ കൊല്ലപ്പെട്ടു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the idea that abuse of power and violation of another’s dignity invite decisive consequences; even when force is used, the narrative frames it as retributive justice aimed at restoring moral order and protecting honor.
Vaiśampāyana reports the aftermath of the Kīcaka episode: 105 Kīcakas (Upakīcakas) are killed, and adding Kīcaka—the commander slain earlier—the total reaches 106 Sūta-born men killed.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.