यथैतानि विशिष्टानि स्वस्यां जात्यां वृकोदर
Just as these are distinguished in their own kind, O Vrikodara—
सोयमिन्द्रादनवमो वासुदेवाच्च भारत । उषित्वा पञ्च वर्षाणि सहस्राक्षस्य वेश्मनि। ब्रह्मचारी व्रते युक्तः सर्वशस्त्रभृतांवरः
So is he, not inferior to Indra or Vasudeva, O Bharata, having dwelt for five years in the house of the thousand-eyed one, devoted to the vow of celibacy, the foremost among all bearers of arms.
अवाप चास्त्रमस्त्रज्ञः सर्वज्ञः सर्वसंमतः । क्षिप्रं चाणु विचित्रं च ध्रुवं च वदतां वरः
He obtained weapons, being skilled in arms, all-knowing, honored by all, swift, subtle, wondrous, steadfast, and foremost among speakers.
अनुज्ञातः सुरेन्द्रेण पुनः प्रत्यागतो महीम्। धार्तराष्ट्रविनाशाय पाण्डवानां जयाय च
Permitted by the lord of the gods, he returned again to the earth, for the destruction of the Dhartarashtras and the victory of the Pandavas.
यं मन्ये द्वादशं रुद्रमादित्यानां त्रयोदशम् । वसूनां नवमं मन्ये गिरीणामष्टमः स्मृतः
Him I consider the twelfth Rudra, the thirteenth among the Adityas, the ninth among the Vasus, and the eighth among the mountains, as is remembered.
यस्य दीर्घौ समौ बाहू ज्याघातेन किणीकृतौ । दक्षिणश्चैव सव्यश्च बाहू अनडुहो यथा
His two long, equal arms, marked by the string of the bow, both right and left, are like those of a bull.
तलाङ्गुलित्राभ्युचितौ नागराजकरोपमौ । पीनौ परिघसङ्काशौ मृदुताम्रतलौ शुभौ
Fitted for the grasp of the palm and fingers, resembling the hands of the king of serpents, thick as iron clubs, with soft, coppery palms, and beautiful.
श्यामो युवा गुडाकेशो दर्शनीयश्च पाण्डवः । गाण्डीवधन्वा श्वेताश्वः किरीटी वानरध्वजः
Dark, youthful, with curling hair, handsome is this Pandava, wielder of Gandiva, with white horses, crowned, and bearing the banner of the monkey.
किंरूपधारी किंकर्मा किंचेष्टः किंपरायणः। बीभत्सुर्भीमधन्वा च किं करिष्यति चार्जुनः । कुन्तीपुत्रो विराटस्य रमते केन कर्मणा
What form does he assume, what deeds does he perform, what actions, what is his aim? What will Arjuna, the terrible archer, do? By what act does Kunti's son please King Virata?
इमौ किणीकृतौ बाहू ज्याघाततलपीडनात्। नित्यं कञ्चुकसंछन्नौ नान्यथा गोप्तुमुत्सहे
These arms, marked by the bowstring, always covered by armor, I cannot protect in any other way.
किं तु कार्यवशादेतदाचरिष्यामि कुत्सितम्
Yet, compelled by necessity, I will perform this unworthy act.
बाहू मे भरतश्रेष्ठ महालाञ्छनलक्षितौ । ज्याघातेन महान्तौ मे गूहितुं नान्यथोत्सहे
My arms, O best of the Bharatas, are marked with great signs, made mighty by the bowstring; I cannot conceal them otherwise.
उभौ कम्बू प्रतीमुच्य कुण्डले परिपातुके । वेणीकृतशिरा भूत्वा भविष्यामि बृहन्नला
Binding both arms with bracelets, wearing earrings, and with hair braided, I will become Brihannala.
पठन्नाख्यायिकां नाम स्त्रीभावेन पुनः पुनः । प्रजानां समुदाचारं बहुनर्मकृतं वदन् । रमयिष्यामि राजानमन्यं चान्तःपुरे जनम्
Reciting tales again and again in the manner of a woman, speaking with much jest and the customs of the people, I will delight the king and the other people of the inner chambers.
नृत्तं गीतं च वादित्रं दिव्यं च विविधं तथा । शिक्षयिष्याम्यहं राजन्विराटनगरे स्त्रियः
O King, I will teach dance, song, and various kinds of divine music to the women in the city of Virata.
स्त्रीभावसमुदाचारान्नृत्तगीतकथाश्रयैः। छादयिष्यामि राजेन्द्र माययाऽऽत्मानमात्मना
By adopting the ways and conduct of women, and by means of dance, song, and stories, I will conceal myself, O lord of kings, through my own illusion.
युधिष्ठिरस्य गेहेऽस्मिन्द्रौपद्याः परिचारिका। उषिताऽस्मीति वक्ष्यामि धर्मराजस्य संमता
I will say that I lived as a maidservant in the house of Yudhishthira, serving Draupadi, and was approved by the righteous king.
उर्वश्याश्चापि शापेन प्राप्तोस्मि नृप षण्डताम्। शक्रप्रसादान्मुक्तोऽहं वर्षादूर्ध्वं त्रयोदशात्। इत्येतन्मे प्रतिज्ञातं विचरिष्याम्यहं यथा
O King, by the curse of Urvashi I have become a eunuch, but by Indra's grace I will be freed after thirteen years; thus I have vowed, and so I will live.
एतेन विधिना छन्नः कृतकेन यथा नलः। विहरिष्यामि राजेन्द्र विराटस्य पुरे सुखम्
In this way, disguised as another, just as Nala once did, I will dwell happily in the city of Virata, O lord of kings.
वासुदेवसमो लोके यशसा विक्रमेण च। सोयं राज्ये विराटस्य भवने भरतर्षभः
He who is equal to Vasudeva in fame and valor, that bull among the Bharatas, will now reside in the palace of King Virata.
मेरुः प्रच्छादित इव वसन्वज्रोण मुष्टिना। आख्याता षण्डकोस्मीति प्रतिज्ञातं हि पातकं
Like Mount Meru hidden by a mass of clouds, I will be known as a eunuch; this is my vow, though it is a misfortune.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा पुरुषप्रवीरस्तथार्जुनो धर्मामृतां वरिष्ठः। वाक्यं तथासौ .... भूयो नृपोऽपरं भ्रातर...बभाषे
Having spoken thus, Arjuna, foremost among men and best in the nectar of righteousness, addressed the king again, and then another brother spoke.
किंकर्मा किंसमाचारो नकुलोयं भविष्यति। सुकुमारश्च शूरश्च दर्शनीयः सुखोचितः
What work and what conduct will this Nakula undertake? He is delicate, heroic, handsome, and accustomed to comfort.
अदुःखार्हश्च बालश्च लालितश्चापि नित्यशः । सोयमार्तश्च शान्तश्च किं नु रोचयतात्त्विह
He is not meant for hardship, is young, and always cherished; yet now he is afflicted and calm—what does he wish to do here?
किं त्वं नकुल कुर्वाणस्तस्य तात चरिष्यसि। कर्म तत्त्वं समाचक्ष्व राज्ये तस्य महीपतेः
What will you do, Nakula, and what task will you perform? Tell us, dear one, what work you will undertake in the king's service.
अश्वाध्यक्षो भविष्यामि विराटस्येति मे मतिः। दामग्रन्थीति नाम्नाऽहं कर्मैतत्सुप्रियं मम
I will become the superintendent of horses for King Virata; this is my decision. I will be called by the name Granthi, and this work is very dear to me.
दामग्नन्थी परिज्ञातः कुशलो दामकर्मणि । न मां परिभविष्यन्ति जना जात्विह कर्हिचित्
Known as Granthi, skilled in the care of horses, I will never be despised by anyone here.
कुशलोत्स्म्यश्वशिक्षायां तथैवाश्वचिकित्सने। प्रियाश्च सततं मेऽश्वाः कुरुराजा यथा तव
I am skilled in training and treating horses, and horses are always dear to me, O king of the Kurus, just as they are to you.
न मां परिभविष्यन्ति किशोरा वडवास्तथा । न दुष्टाश्च भविष्यन्ति पृष्ठे धुरि च मद्गताः
Neither colts nor mares will disregard me, nor will any wicked horses under my care become unruly.
द्रक्ष्यन्ति ये च मां केचिद्विराटनगरे जनाः । तेभ्य एवं प्रवक्ष्यामि विहरिष्याम्यहं यथा
If any people in the city of Virata see me, I will tell them accordingly and live as I have vowed.