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कीचकवधपर्वन् (kIcakavadhaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Kīcakavadhaparvan] (“the slaughter of the Kīcakas”), the 54th of the minor parvans of Mhbhr. § 551: The Pāṇḍavas thus passed ten months in Matsya's city. As the year was about to expire, Kīcaka, the senāpati and brotherin-law of Virāṭa, became enamoured of Kṛshṇā, who rebuked him and warned him of the Gandharvas, her husbands (IV, 14). Then he caused Sudeshṇā (Kaikeyī) to send Kṛshṇā to him to fetch wine. Kṛshṇā adored the Sun, who commanded a Rākshasa to protect her invisibly (IV, 15). As Kīcaka seized her, she dashed him to the ground and rushed to Yudhishṭhira, followed by Kīcaka, who brought her down and seized her by the hair, but the Rākshasa gave him a push, so that he fell down senseless. Yudhishṭhira, apprehensive of discovery, commanded Bhīmasena to forbear. Kṛshṇā rebuked Virāṭa and was praised by the courtiers, but sent back to Sudeshṇā by Yudhishṭhira: “the Gandharvas will surely dispel thy woe.” Sudeshṇā said: “I shall cause Kīcaka to be slain, if thou wishest it.” Kṛshṇā answered: “Even others will slay him” (IV, 16). Kṛshṇā rose up at night and proceeded to Bhīmasena (IV, 17), and complained of their plight and especially that of Sahadeva (b) (IV, 18--21). Bhīmasena exhorted her to endure a little longer, reminding her of Sukanyā, Indrasenā (c), Sītā, Lopāmudrā, and Sāvitrī (IV, 21), and said: “To-morrow evening you should manage to have a meeting with Kīcaka in the dancing hall, but so that others may not espy thee.” Kīcaka came to the rendezvous and was slain by Bhīmasena, and Kṛshṇā said to the keepers of the dancing-hall: “Kīcaka has been slain by my Gandharva husbands” (IV, 22). Kīcaka's relatives obtained permission from Virāṭa to cremate Kṛshṇā with him, and carried her towards the burning-place. She cried “Jaya”, etc. (). Bhīmasena hearing it, came and slew 105 of them with a tree (IV, 23). Virāṭa got afraid and caused Sudeshṇā to ask Kṛshṇā to leave the country, but she obtained permission to remain for thirteen days (IV, 24).