Let Yudhishthira, the
son of Kunti, continue to pay homage unto the king of Matsya.' Hearing
these words of Bhima, Draupadi said, 'In order that, O lord, thou mayst
not have to renounce the truth already pledged to me, do thou, O hero,
slay Kichaka in secret.' Bhima assuring her said, 'Even today I shall
slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the
darkness of the night. I shall, O faultless lady, crush, even as an
elephant crusheth a _vela_ fruit,[16] the head of the wicked Kichaka who
wisheth for what is unattainable by him!'"
[16] Some texts read, _Vilwam nagaviodhara--i.e.,_ 'As an
elephant lifts up a vela fruit.'
Vaisampayana continued, "Repairing first to the place of assignation at
night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. And he waited there in
expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait for a deer. And
Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose, came to the
dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of meeting Panchali. And
thinking of the assignation, he entered the chamber. And having entered
that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that wretch of wicked soul came upon
Bhima of incomparable prowess, who had come a little before and who was
waiting in a corner. And as an insect approacheth towards a flaming
fire, or a puny animal towards a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying
down in a bed and burning in anger at the thought of the insult offered
to Krishna, as if he were the Suta's Death.
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