कङ्को नाम ब्रुवाणोऽहं मताक्षः साधुदेविता। वैडूर्यान्काञ्चनान्दानान्स्फाटिकान्राजतानपि ।। 23
Calling myself Kanka, a skilled gambler, I will offer fine gifts of beryl, gold, crystal, and silver dice.
कृष्णाक्षाँल्लोहिताक्षांश्च निवप्स्यामि मनोरमान्। अरिष्टान्राजगोलिङ्गान्दर्शनीयान्सुवर्चसः ।। 24
I will arrange beautiful dice—black-eyed, red-eyed, auspicious, royal, and splendid to behold.
लोहिताश्चाश्मगर्भाश्च सन्ति तात धनानि मे। दर्शनीयाः सभानन्दाः कुशलैः साधुनिष्ठिताः ।। 25
I possess precious stones, red and gem-encrusted, delightful to see, bringing joy to the assembly, and expertly crafted.
अप्येतान्पाणिना स्पृष्ट्वा संप्रहृष्यन्ति मानवाः ।। 26
Even by merely touching these with their hands, people are filled with delight.
तान्विकीर्य समे देशे रमणीये विपांसुले। देविष्यामि यथाकामं स विहारो भविष्यति ।। 27
Scattering them on a level, pleasant, and sandy spot, I will play as I wish; that will be my recreation.
कङ्को नाम्ना परिव्राट् च विराटस्य सभासदः। ज्योतिषे शकुनज्ञाने निमित्ते चाक्षकौशले । ब्राह्मे वेदे मयाऽधीते वेदाङ्गेषु च सर्वशः ।। 28
Known as Kanka, a wandering ascetic, I will be an attendant in Virata's court, skilled in astrology, omens, and dice, and learned in the Vedas and all their branches.
धर्मकामार्थमोक्षेषु नीतिशास्त्रेषु पारगः। पृष्टोऽहं कथयिष्यामि राज्ञः प्रियतमं वचः ।। 29
Accomplished in the sciences of righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation, and in the treatises on polity, when questioned I will speak words most pleasing to the king.
आसं युधिष्ठिरस्याहं पुरा प्राणसमः सखा। इति वक्ष्यामि राजानं यदि मामनुयोक्ष्यते ।। 30
I will say, 'I was once the dearest friend of Yudhishthira, as dear as life itself,' if the king should ask me.
विराटनगरे छन्न एवं युक्तः सदा वसे। इत्येवं मे प्रतिज्ञातं विचरिष्याम्यहं यथा ।। 31
Thus, remaining concealed in the city of Virata, I will always act accordingly; this is my vow, and so I shall conduct myself.
एवं निर्दिश्य चात्मानं निश्वसन्नुष्णमार्तिजम् । विमुञ्चन्नश्रु नेत्राभ्यां भीमसेनमुवाच ह
Having thus described himself, sighing with the heat of sorrow, and shedding tears from his eyes, he spoke to Bhimasena.
भीमसेन कथं कर्म मात्स्यराष्ट्रे करिष्यसि। हत्वा क्रोधवशांस्तत्र पर्वते गन्धमादने
Bhimasena, what work will you do in the kingdom of Matsya, you who, in anger, slew those on Mount Gandhamadana?
यक्षान्क्रोधाभिताम्राक्षान्राक्षसांश्चापि पौरुषात्। प्रादाः पाञ्चालकन्यायै पद्मानि सुबहून्यपि
With your might, you destroyed Yakshas, fierce and red-eyed with rage, and gave many lotuses to the princess of Panchala.
बकं राक्षसराजानं भीषणं पुरुषादकम् । जघ्निवानसि कौन्तेय ब्राह्मणार्थमरिन्दम। क्षेमा चाभयसंवीता सैकचक्रा त्वया कृता
You killed Baka, the dreadful cannibal king of the Rakshasas, O son of Kunti, for the sake of a Brahmin, O subduer of foes; and by you, the city of Ekachakra was made safe and secure.
हिडिम्बं च महावीर्यं किर्मीरं चैव राक्षसम्। त्वया हत्वा महाबाहो वनं निष्कण्टकं कृतम्
You slew the mighty Hidimba and also the Rakshasa Kirmira; by your great arms, you made the forest free of thorns.
आपदं चापि संप्राप्ता द्रौपदी चारुहासिनी । जटासुरवधं कृत्वा वयं च परिमोक्षिताः
When Draupadi of lovely smile was in danger, you killed Jatasura, and we were all rescued.
मत्स्यराजांन्तिके तात वीर्यपूर्णोऽत्यमर्षणः। वृकोदर विराटस्य बलीयान्दुर्बलीयसः। समीपे नगरे तस्य वत्स्यसे केन कर्मणा
O son, in the presence of the king of the Matsyas, full of strength and intolerant of insult, O wolf-bellied one, you will dwell near mighty and weak men alike in his city—by what work?
पौरोगवो ब्रुवाणोऽहं बल्लवो नाम नामतः । इति पाठः सूदोऽहं वललो नाम्ना सूपकारो नराधिप। उपस्थास्यामि राजानं विराटमिति रोचये
I will say I am a cook, known by the name Vallava; as a chef, I will serve King Virata—this is what I desire.
रसान्नानाविधांश्चापि स्वादूंश्च मधुरांस्तथा । सूपांश्चापि करिष्यामि कुशलोस्मि महानसे
I will prepare various kinds of delicious and sweet dishes and soups, for I am skilled in the kitchen.
कृतपूर्वाणि यान्यस्य व्यञ्जनानि सुशिक्षितैः । तान्यप्यभिभविष्यामि प्रीतिं संजनयन्नहम्
Even those dishes which have been previously prepared by others, well-trained in their craft, I shall surpass, winning favor for myself.
पूर्वमप्राशितांस्तेन कर्ता रसगुणान्वितान् । स्वादु व्यञ्जनमास्वाद्य मात्स्यः प्रीतो भविष्यति
Having tasted the flavorful and delicious dishes, never before eaten by him, the king of the Matsyas will be pleased.
आहरिष्यामि दारूणां पाटितानां शतंशतम्। राजा कर्माणि मे दृष्ट्वा न मां परिभविष्यति
I will bring in hundreds upon hundreds of split logs; when the king sees my work, he will not look down upon me.
ये च तस्य महामल्लाः समरेष्वपराजिताः । कृतप्रतापा बहुशो राज्ञः प्रत्यायिता बले
And those mighty wrestlers of his, undefeated in battle, who have often displayed their prowess and brought confidence to the king's army—
रङ्गोपजीविनः सर्वे परेषां च भयावहाः । तानहं निहनिष्यामि रतिं राज्ञः प्रवर्तयन्
All those who make their living in the arena, who inspire fear in their opponents—I will defeat them, bringing delight to the king.
न च तान्युध्यमानोऽहं नयिष्ये यमसादनम्। तथा तान्निहनिष्यामि जीविष्यन्ति यथाऽऽतुराः
Yet, even as I fight them, I will not send them to the abode of Yama; I will defeat them in such a way that they survive, like the sick who recover.
वृषो वा महिषो वापि नागो वा षाष्टिहायनः । सिंहो व्याघ्रो ग्रहीतव्यो भविष्यति न संशयः
Whether it be a bull, a buffalo, an elephant of sixty years, a lion, or a tiger—any of these I will seize, without doubt.
तान्सर्वान्दुर्ग्रहानन्यैराशीविषविषोपमान्। बलादहं ग्रहीष्यामि मत्स्यराजस्य पश्यतः
All those difficult-to-capture creatures, whose touch is like deadly poison, I will seize by force before the eyes of the Matsya king.
आरालिका वा सूदा वा येऽस्य युक्ता महानसे। तानहं प्रीणयिष्यामिं मनुष्यान्स्तेन कर्मणा
The cooks and kitchen staff who serve in his great kitchen—I will win their favor, and through that work, please the people.
आरालिको गोविकर्ता सूपकर्ता नियोधकः। आसं युधिष्ठिरस्याहमिति वक्ष्यामि मानवान्
I will say to the people: 'I was the cook, the cattle butcher, the soup-maker, and the meat-cutter for Yudhishthira.'
आत्मानमात्मना रक्षंश्चरिष्यामि विशांपते । इत्येवं च प्रतिज्ञातं विचरिष्याम्यहं यथा। विराटनगरे च्छन्नो विराटस्य समीपतः
Protecting myself with my own skill, I will live, O lord of the people; thus have I resolved, and so I shall move about, concealed in the city of Virata, near King Virata.
अग्निर्ब्राह्मणरूपेण प्रच्छन्नोऽन्नमयाचत। महाशनं ब्राह्मणं मां प्रमुञ्चार्जुन खाण्डवे
Once, Agni, disguised as a Brahmin, begged for food; O Arjuna, release me, the great eater, the Brahmin, in the Khandava forest.