They went to Matsya kingdom and entered the king’s service as planned. Queen Sudeshna’s brother, Kichaka, was the Commander-in-Chief and had immense influence on one and all in the kingdom. He was arrogant, stubborn and vile. One day, Kichaka came to meet his sister Sudeshna. All of a sudden, he was attracted by the beautiful Sairandhri. He waited for an opportune time to meet her.
Draupadi saw through Kichaka’s evil intention. Kichaka persuaded his sister to help him trap Draupadi. Sudeshna sent Draupadi with a jug of wine to Kichaka’s room. Kichaka tried to grab her and outrage her modesty. She fled to the court but Kichaka followed her, abusing and kicking her. None dared oppose him. Draupadi told Bhima about the incident. He told Draupadi to act as if she had consented to Kichaka’s advances. He further told her that she should call him to the dance hall at midnight. When Kichaka came into the dance hall, Bhima would kill him. As planned, when Kichaka approached Draupadi, he found Bhima in the guise of a woman. They wrestled till Bhima killed him.
In the morning when queen Sudeshna, King Virata and Kichaka’s brothers heard of Kichaka’s killing, they all wailed. When the dead body was being carried away for the last rites, Draupadi uttered, “He has met with his nemesis.” Hearing the words Kichaka’s brothers caught hold of Draupadi and began to drag her to the burial ground. Bhima had reached the burial ground before them all and covered himself from head to toe with earth. When Kichaka’s brothers reached there, Bhima killed many of them. A few fled the spot. Bhima sent Draupadi to the palace and he himself after taking a bath reached the royal kitchen through a shorter route. When the people of Matsya kingdom learnt that Sairandhri’s husband had killed Kichaka’s brothers, they all began to fear her. Even queen Sudeshana dared not speak anything to her.
Hearing the news of Kichaka having been killed, Duryodhana thought it might be Bhima because Kichaka could have been killed by Bhishma, Balarama, Krishna, Bhima, Duryodhana and Karna. He at once sent his spies to know the whereabouts of the Pandavas. But the spies were unsuccessful. One day, he heard that Kichaka was killed by a gandharva. It might be the handiwork of Bhima. But how could the Pandavas be exposed?
Duryodhana’s
friend, King Susharma of Trigarta, was an enemy of King Virata. He agreed to attack Matsya.
