SB 1.17.30

Even an ordinary ksatriya does not kill a surrendered person, and what to speak of Maharaja Pariksit, who was by nature compassionate and kind to the poor. He was smiling because the artificially dressed Kali disclosed his identity as a lower class man, and he was thinking how ironic it was that no one was saved from his sharp sword when he desired to kill, but the poor lower class Kali was spared by his timely surrender. Maharaja Pariksit's glory and kindness is therefore sung in history. He was a kind and compassionate emperor, fully worthy of accepting surrender even from his enemy. Thus the personality of Kali was saved by the will of Providence.