ते च ब्राह्मणमुख्याश्च सूतपौरोगवैः सह। अज्ञातवासमुषिताः कथं च परिचारकाः
And how did those foremost Brahmanas, together with the charioteers and priests, dwell in concealment, serving as attendants?
यथा विराटनगरे तव पूर्वपितामहाः । अज्ञातवासमुषितास्तावद्वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु
I will tell you how your forefathers once lived incognito in the city of Virata; listen to that.
तथा स तान्वराँल्लब्ध्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। गत्वाऽऽश्रमं ब्राह्मणेभ्य आचख्यौ वृत्तमात्मनः
Thus, having obtained those boons, King Yudhishthira, lord of dharma, went to the hermitage and related his story to the Brahmanas.
कथयित्वा च तत्सर्वं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो युधिष्ठिरः। अरणीसहितं भाण्डं ब्राह्मणाय न्यवेदयत्
After recounting everything to the Brahmanas, Yudhishthira presented the bundle containing the fire sticks and belongings to a Brahmana.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो दृढव्रतः। समाहूयानुजान्सर्वानिति होवाच भारत
Then King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti and firm in his vows, summoned all his brothers and spoke thus, O Bharata.
द्वादशेमानि वर्षाणि राष्ट्राद्विप्रोषिता वयम्। छद्मना हृतराज्याश्च निस्वाश्च बहुशः कृताः
For twelve years we have been exiled from the kingdom, deprived of our rule by deceit, and made destitute many times.
उषिताश्च वने वासं यथा द्वादश वत्सरान्। अज्ञातचर्यां वत्स्यामश्छन्ना वर्षं त्रयोदशम्
We have dwelt in the forest for twelve years; now we must live incognito, concealed for the thirteenth year.
धर्मेण तेऽभ्यनुज्ञाताः पाण्डवाः सत्यविक्रमाः। अज्ञातवासं वत्स्यन्तश्छन्ना वर्षं त्रयोदशम्
Sanctioned by dharma, the Pandavas, truthful and valiant, will live incognito, concealed for the thirteenth year.
उपोपविश्य विद्वांसः स्नातकाः संशितव्रताः । ये तत्र ब्राह्मणा आसन्वनवाससहायिनः । ये च भक्ता वसन्ति स्म वनवासे तपस्विनः
The learned, those who have completed their vows, and the Brahmanas who were companions in the forest, and those devoted ascetics who dwelt there, sat together.
तानब्रुवन्महात्मानो हृष्टाः प्राञ्जलयः स्थिताः । 0
Standing joyfully with joined palms, those great souls spoke.
विदितं भवतां सर्वं धार्तराष्ट्रैर्यथा वयम् । छद्मना हृतराज्याश्च निस्वाश्च बहुशः कृताः
Everything is known to you—how we were deprived of our kingdom by the sons of Dhritarashtra through deceit, and made destitute many times.
उषिताश्च वने वासं यथा द्वादशवत्सरान् । भवद्भिरेव सहिता वन्याहारा द्विजोत्तमाः
We have lived in the forest for twelve years, together with you, O best of twice-born, subsisting on wild food.
अज्ञातवाससमयं शेषं वर्षं त्रयोदशम्। तद्वत्स्यामो वयं छन्नास्तदनुज्ञातुमर्हथ
The remaining period of incognito exile is one year; we shall live concealed, and you ought to grant your permission.
सुयोधनश्च दुष्टात्मा कर्णश्च सहसौबलः । जानन्तो विषमं कुर्युरस्मास्वत्यन्तवैरिणः
Suyodhana, wicked in mind, Karna, and the son of Subala, knowing this, may act unfairly against us, being our relentless enemies.
युक्तचाराश्च यत्ताश्च दाये स्वस्य जनस्य च । दुरात्मनां हि कस्तेषां विश्वासं गन्तुमर्हति
They are vigilant, skilled in spies, and attentive to their own and their people's affairs; who among them, being evil-minded, is worthy of trust?
अपि नस्तद्भवेद्भूयो यद्वयं ब्राह्मणैः सह। समस्तेषु च राष्ट्रेषु स्वराज्यस्था भवेम हि
May it happen again for us, that together with the Brahmanas, we may dwell established in our own kingdom throughout all the realms.
इत्युक्त्वा दुःखशोकार्तः शुचिर्धर्मसुतस्तदा। संमूर्च्छितोऽभवद्राजा सास्रकण्ठो युधिष्ठिरः
Having spoken thus, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, pure and afflicted by sorrow and grief, then became unconscious, his throat choked with tears.
तमथाश्वासयन्सर्वे ब्राह्मणा भ्रातृभिः सह
Then all the Brahmanas, together with his brothers, began to comfort him.
प्रबुध्य दुःखमोहार्तो धौम्यं धर्मभृतांवरम् । प्रावैक्षत तदा राजा साश्रुकण्ठो युधिष्ठिरः
Regaining consciousness, tormented by grief and confusion, King Yudhishthira, his throat filled with tears, looked at Dhaumya, the foremost upholder of Dharma.
अथ धौम्योऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं महार्थं नृपतिं तदा। आश्वासयंस्तं स नृपं भ्रातॄंश्च ब्राह्मणैः सह
Then Dhaumya spoke these words of great import to the king, consoling him and his brothers together with the Brahmanas.
राजन्विद्वान्भवान्दान्तः सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः। नैवंविधाः प्रमुह्यन्ति धीराः कस्यांचिदापदि
O King, you are learned, self-controlled, steadfast in truth, and master of your senses; resolute men like you do not lose composure in any calamity.
देवैरप्यापदः प्राप्ताश्छन्नैश्च बहुभिस्तदा। तत्रतत्र सपत्नानां निग्रहार्थं महात्मभिः
Even the gods have faced misfortunes, often in disguise, in various places, for the subjugation of their enemies, O great-souled one.
दितिपुत्रैर्हृते राज्ये देवराजः सुदुःखितः। ब्रह्माणं तोषयिष्यंश्च ब्रह्मरूपं विधाय च
When the sons of Diti seized the kingdom, the king of the gods was greatly distressed and, assuming the form of a Brahmana, sought to please Brahma.
इन्द्रेण निषधं प्राप्य गिरिप्रस्थाह्वये पुरे। छन्नेनोष्य कृतं कर्म द्विषतां बलनिग्रहे
Indra, having reached Nishadha in the city called Giriprastha, dwelt there in concealment and performed deeds to subdue the strength of his foes.
प्रसादाद्ब्रह्मणो राजन्दितेः पुत्रान्महाबलान् । निर्जित्य तरसा शत्रून्पुनर्लोकाञ्जुगोप च
By the grace of Brahma, O King, Indra overcame Diti's mighty sons, defeated his enemies by force, and again protected the worlds.
विष्णुनाऽश्मगिरिं प्राप्य तदा दित्यां निवत्स्यता। गर्भे वधार्थं दैत्यानामज्ञातेनोषितं चिरम्
Vishnu, having reached the mountain and dwelling secretly within Diti, remained there for a long time, unknown, to destroy the Daityas in the womb.
प्रोष्य वामनरूपेण च्छन्नेन ब्रह्मचारिणा। बलेर्यथा हृतं राज्यं विक्रमैस्तच्च ते श्रुतम्
Disguised as a celibate in the form of a dwarf, he dwelt in secret, and by his prowess took away Bali's kingdom, as you have heard.
और्वेण वसता छन्नमूरौ ब्रह्मर्षिणा तदा। यत्कृतं तात लोकेषु तच्च सर्वं श्रुतं त्वया
You have also heard, dear one, all that was done in the worlds by Aurva, the Brahmarshi, who lived concealed in the thigh.
प्रच्छन्नेनापि सर्वत्र हरिणा वृत्रनिग्रहे। वज्रं प्रविश्य शक्रस्य यत्कृतं तच्च ते श्रुतम्
You have also heard what Hari did, even while concealed, to slay Vritra, entering Indra's thunderbolt everywhere.
हुताशनेन यच्चापः प्रविश्य च्छन्नमूषितम्। विबुधानां हि यत्कर्म कृतं तच्चापि ते श्रुतम्
And you have heard of the deed performed by Agni, who, entering the waters in secret, accomplished the task for the gods.