वैशम्पायन उवाच कीचकस्य तु घातेन अत्याहितं चिन्तयित्वा व्यस्मयन्त पृथग् जनाः॥ सानुजस्य विशाम्पते।
Vaishampayana said O king, at the destruction of Kichaka and his brothers and thinking of this calamity, people were filled with surprise.
तस्मिन् पुरे जनपदे संजल्पोऽभूच्च सङ्घशः। शौर्याद्धि वल्लभो राज्ञो महासत्त्वः स कीचकः॥
All over the city and provinces, it was widely known that the kings Vallabha and Kichaka were both brave and powerful heroes.
आसीत् प्रहर्ता सैन्यानां दारामर्शी च दुर्मतिः। स हतः खलु पापात्मा गन्धर्वैर्दुष्टपूरुषः॥
The wicked-minded Kichaka was the oppressor of men and the ravisher of soldier's wives; that vicious, wicked man has been slain by the Gandharvas.
इत्यजल्पन् महाराज परानीकविनाशनम्। देशे देशे मनुष्याश्च कीचकं दुष्प्रधर्षणम्॥
It is in this way, O great king, that people of various countries spoke about the irrepressible Kichaka, the slayer of hostile armies.
अथ वै धार्तराष्ट्रेण प्रयुक्ता ये बहिश्चराः। मृगयित्वा बहून् ग्रामान् राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च॥
In the meantime spies, engaged by Dhritarashtra's son, searching many villages, provinces and cities.
संविधाय यथादृष्टं यथादेशप्रदर्शनम्। कृतकृत्या न्यवर्तन्त ते चरा नगरं प्रति॥
Accomplishing all they had been commanded and seeing all countries, returned to the city; being successful (in one thing).
तत्र दृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कौरव्यं धृतराष्ट्रजम्। द्रोणकर्णकृपैः साधु भीष्मेण च महात्मना॥ संगतं भ्रातृभिश्चापि त्रिगर्तेश्च महारथैः। दुर्योधनं सभामध्ये आसीनमिदमब्रुवन्॥
Then beholding Dhritarashtra's son, king Duryodhana of the Kuru race, seated in his court, with Drona, Karna, Kripa, the noble Bhishma, his brothers and the great heroes, the Trigarthas, they said to him.
चरा ऊचुः कृतोऽस्माभिः परो यत्नस्तेषामन्वेषणे सदा। पाण्डवानां मनुष्येन्द्र तस्मिन् महति कानने॥
The spies said O king of men, we have with great care searched the sons of Pandu in that huge forest.
निर्जने मृगसंकीर्णे नानादुमलताकुले। लताप्रतानबहुले नानागुल्मसमावृते॥
Solitary, abounding in wild animals, filled with various trees, creepers, entwining creepers and various groves.
न च विद्मो गता येन पार्थाः सुदृढविक्रमाः। मार्गमाणाः पदन्यासं तेषु तेषु तथा तथा॥
1But we haven failed to find out the way (stamped) with their footsteps, by which the highly powerful sons of Pritha might have gone.
गिरिकूटेषु तुङ्गेषु नानाजनपदेषु च। जनाकीर्णेषु देशेषु खवटेषु पुरेषु च।॥
On mountain summits, in fastness, in various countries, in provinces filled with men, in encampments and cities.
नरेन्द्र बहुशोऽन्विष्टा नैव विद्यश्च पाण्डवान्। अत्यन्तं वा विनष्टास्ते भद्रं तुभ्यं नरर्षभ॥
We have made many inquires, O king, but we have not found out the Pandavas; may good betide you. O king; it seems they have perished.
वर्मन्यन्वेष्यमाणा वै रथिनां रथिसत्तम। न हि विद्मो गतिं तेषां वासं हि नरसत्तम॥
O foremost of car-warriors, we pursued (also) the track of those car-warriors, but O foremost of men, we have not found out their whereabouts and movements.
किंचित्काले मनुष्येन्द्र सूतानामनुगा वयम्। मृगयित्वा यथान्यायं वेदितार्थाः स्म तत्त्वतः॥
O king of men, for sometime we pursued their charioteers; and making due enquiries we have got at the truth.
प्राप्ता द्वारवती सूता विना पार्थः परंतप। न तत्र कृष्णा राजेन्द्र पाण्डवाश्च महाव्रताः॥
O slayer of enemies, the charioteers reached, Dvaravati without the son of Pritha. O king, there is neither Krishna nor are the Pandavas of great vows.
सर्वथा विप्रणष्टास्ते नमस्ते भरतर्षभ। न हि विद्मो मतिं तेषां वासं वापि महात्मनाम्॥
They have all perished. We bow to you. O foremost of Bharata. We do no know the movements and whereabouts of those highsouled ones.
पाण्डवानां प्रवृत्तिं च विद्मः कर्मापि वा कृतम्। स नः शाधि मनुष्येन्द्र अत ऊर्ध्वं विशाम्पते॥
We know of the inclination of ht Pandavas and some of their deeds. After this, give us instructions, O king, O lord of men.
अन्वेषणे पाण्डवानां भूयः किं करवामहे। इमां च नः प्रियां वीर वाचं भद्रवतीं शृणु॥
As to what we should again do in our search after the Pandavas. O heroes, listen to these pleasing words tending to your wellbeing.
येन त्रिगर्ता निहता बलेन महता नृप। सूतेन राज्ञो मत्स्यस्य कीचकेन बलीयसा॥
Oking, the Trigarthas were repeatedly vanquished by the great prowess of Kichaka, the charioteer of the king of Matsya.
स हतः पतितः शेते गन्धर्वैर्निशि भारत। अदृश्यमानैर्दुष्टात्मा भ्रातृभिः सह सोदरैः॥
O descendant of Bharata, that vicioussouled one lies slain on earth with his brother by some invisible Gandharvas at night.
प्रियमेतदुपश्रुत्य शत्रूणां च पराभवम्। कृतकृत्यश्च कौरव्य विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्॥
Hearing this pleasant news of the defeat of our enemy, do you decide, O Kauravya, as to what you should do hereafter.