Shloka 21
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 ||
毗湿摩耶那说道：“婆罗多啊，他已被杀而倒下；他就躺在那里，被乾闼婆所诛。那邪心之人于夜间在无人得见之处，与其同胞兄弟一同被处死。”
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.