The Story of **Kichaka**

Here is a story from the **Mahabharata**, in the **Virata Parva** (the part where the Pandavas hide for one year).

Once, the five Pandava brothers and Draupadi had to live secretly for one year. They stayed in the kingdom of **King Virata**. Draupadi pretended to be a maid for the queen.

**Kichaka** was the queen’s brother, so he was King Virata’s **brother-in-law**. He was also the army chief, and he was a big tyrant and a bully. He kept troubling Draupadi and would not stop even when she said “No!”

Draupadi told **Bhima**, her very strong husband. Bhima made a plan. Draupadi told Kichaka, “If you want to meet me, come to the dark dance hall at night.” Kichaka thought he would meet Draupadi. But it was **Bhima** waiting in the dark, covered up so Kichaka could not see properly. [Bhima did not really “become” Draupadi. He tricked Kichaka in the dark. And Kichaka was the brother of Queen Sudeshna, King Virata’s wife, so that is why he was Virata’s brother-in-law.]

When Kichaka came close, Bhima caught him and fought him. Bhima was much stronger, and Kichaka was defeated. In the original story, Kichaka is killed. Later, Kichaka’s brothers tried to hurt Draupadi, but Bhima protected her.

**Moral for kids: ** Don’t bully others. If someone troubles you, tell a trusted grown-up. And real strength is used to protect people, not to hurt them.