Shloka 21
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 25: Kaurava Deliberation and the Search Directive (अन्वेषण-आदेशः)
स हत: पतितः: शेते गन्धर्वर्नेशि भारत । अदृश्यमानैर्दुष्टात्मा भ्रातृभि: सह सोदरै:,राजन! मत्स्यराज विराटके जिस महाबली सेनापति सूतपुत्र कीचकने बहुत बड़ी सेनाके द्वारा त्रिगर्तदेश और वहाँके निवासियोंको तहस-नहस कर दिया था, भारत! गन्धर्वोने उस दुष्टात्माको उसके सहोदर भाइयोंसहित रात्रिमें गुप्तरूपसे मार डाला है। अब वह श्मशानभूमिमें पड़ा सो रहा है
sa hataḥ patitaḥ śete gandharvair neśi bhārata | adṛśyamānair duṣṭātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ saha sodaraiḥ ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఓ భారతా! అతడు గంధర్వులచే రాత్రివేళ హతుడై పడిపోయాడు; అక్కడే పడి ఉన్నాడు. ఆ దుష్టాత్ముడు తన సహోదరులతో కూడి, కనబడకుండా—రహస్యంగా—రాత్రిలోనే చంపబడెను।
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.