In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Kichaka or Keechaka is the commander-in-chief of Matsya kingdom, the country ruled by King Virata.

Draupadi, alias Sairandhri, was then pursued by Kichaka to the royal court, where she was seized by her hair, brought down to the ground and kicked before a full assembly of courtiers, including her disguised husband Yudhishthira (who was Kanka at that time) and King Virata.

Seething from the public insult, Draupadi consulted Yudhishthira's brother, Bhima, at night, who was disguised as the palace cook.

Together, they hatched a plan wherein Draupadi, who would again be disguised as Sairandhri, would pretend to seduce Kichaka in order to arrange a rendezvous in the dance hall after dark.

Bhima, upon hearing these sorrowful words, without losing a moment, quickly changed his attire, hurried out of the palace in the fastest way possible (through a wrong egress, as he knew a shortcut), scaling a wall via a tree.

[2] Some believe that the village named Ekachakra, or Kaiwara where the Pandavas finally settled after the escape from the murder-attempt, belonged to the kingdom of Kichaka.

The Kingdom of Kichaka is identified to be lying between Charmanwati and Vetravati rivers, i.e., to the south of southern-Panchala; to the north of Chedi and to the east of Matsya-proper.