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.
पाण्डवेन ह्यहं तात अश्वेष्वधिकृतः पुरा। इति तस्य पुरे छन्नश्चरिष्यामि महीपते । इत्येतद्वः प्रतिज्ञातं विहरिष्याम्यहं यथा
Formerly, O father, I was appointed by the Pandava over the horses; thus, I will live in that city in disguise, O king. This is my vow, and so I will dwell.
नकुलेनैवमुक्तस्तु धर्मराजोऽब्रवीद्वचः। बृहस्पतिसमो बुद्ध्या नयेनोशनसा समः
When Nakula had spoken thus, the righteous king replied, wise as Brihaspati in intellect and equal to Ushanas in policy.
मन्त्रैर्नानाविधैर्नीतः पथ्येषु परिनिष्ठितः । सुप्रणीतः सुमार्गस्थो राजतन्त्रमवाप यः
He who was led with various kinds of mantras, firmly established in proper conduct, well-guided and set on the right path, attained mastery over the science of kingship.
न चास्य स्खलितं किंचिद्ददृशुस्तद्विदो जनाः। सुनीतिज्ञश्च शूरश्च सर्वमन्त्रविशारदः
And those who were experts in such matters saw no fault in him; he was wise in good policy, valiant, and thoroughly skilled in all counsel.
अधिको मातुरस्माकं कुन्त्याः प्रियतमः सदा। सहदेव कथं कर्म तस्य राज्ञः करिष्यसि। किं वा त्वं तात कुर्वाणः प्रच्छन्नो विचरिष्यसि
He was always dearer to our mother Kunti than the rest; Sahadeva, how will you serve that king? Or, my son, will you wander about in disguise, performing some other task?
गोसङ्ख्याता भविष्यामि विराटस्येति रोचये। प्रतिभोक्ता च दोग्धा च सङ्ख्यानकुशलो गवाम्। तन्त्रीपालेति मे नाम स्वयं प्रोक्तं भविष्यति
I wish to be known as the one who counts the cows for Virata; I will be both the feeder and the milker, skilled in counting the herds. My name will be declared as Tantripala.
अयोगा बहुलाः पुष्टाः क्षीरवत्यो बहुप्रजाः । निष्पन्नसत्त्वाः सुभृता ह्यपेतज्वरकिल्विषाः
The cows are many, strong, abundant in milk, with numerous offspring; they are of excellent nature, well-kept, free from disease and affliction.
दृष्टचोरभया नित्यं व्याधिव्याघ्रविवर्जिताः । गावः सुसहिता राजन्निरुद्विग्ना निरामयः
O King, the cows are always safe from thieves and fear, untouched by disease or tigers, well-tended, content, and healthy.
भविष्यन्ति मया गुप्ता विराटनगरे तदा। निपुणत्वं चरिष्यामि प्रीतिरत्र परा हि मे
At that time, I will protect them in the city of Virata; I will display my skill here, for I have great affection for this task.
अहं हि भवता गोषु प्रहितः सतत पुरा। तत्र मे कौशलं सर्वमनुबद्धं विशांपते
For I was always assigned by you to the cows before; all my expertise is connected to that, O lord of the people.
लक्षणं चरितं चैव गवां यच्चापि मङ्गलम् । सत्सर्वं मे सुविदितमन्यच्चापि विशांपते
I know well the marks, behavior, and auspicious qualities of cows, O lord of the people, and much else besides.
वृषभानपि जानामि राजन्पूजितलक्षणान्। येषां मूत्रमुपाघ्राय अपि वन्ध्या प्रसूयते
O King, I also know the bulls that bear marks of honor, whose urine, when smelled, even causes a barren cow to conceive.
सोऽहमेवं चरिष्यामि प्रीतिरत्र परा हि मे। विराटनगरे गूढो रंस्येऽहं तेन कर्मणा
Thus I will act, for I have great affection for this; hidden in the city of Virata, I will find joy in that work.
तोषयिष्ये च राजानां मा भूच्चिन्ता तवानघ । न च मां वेत्स्यति परस्तत्ते रोचतु पार्थिव। इत्येतद्वः प्रतिज्ञातं विचरिष्याम्यहं यथा
I will please the king; let there be no worry for you, O sinless one. No outsider will recognize me; let this please you, O ruler. Thus I promise you: I will move about as I have said.
केनात्र कर्मणा कृष्णा द्रौपदी विचरिष्यति। न हि किंचिद्विजानाति कर्म कर्तुं यथा स्त्रियः
By what work will Krishna Draupadi move about here? For she knows nothing of the tasks that women perform.
माल्यागन्धानलङ्कारान्वस्त्राणि विविधानि च। एतान्येवाभिजानाति यथाजाता च भामिनी
She only knows garlands, perfumes, ornaments, and various garments, as is natural for a beautiful woman.
पतिव्रता महाभागा कथं नु विचरिष्यति। इयं तु नः प्रिया भार्या प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसी
How will this devoted, greatly fortunate wife move about? She is our beloved wife, dearer than life itself.
मातेव परिपाल्या च पूज्या ज्येष्ठा स्वसेव च । सुकुमारी सुशीला च राजपुत्री यशस्विनी । कथं वत्स्यति कल्याणी विराटनगरे सती
She must be protected like a mother, honored like the eldest sister, delicate and virtuous, a glorious princess—how will this blessed one live in the city of Virata?
अहं वत्स्यामि राजेन्द्र निर्वृतो भव पार्थिव। यथा ते मत्कृते शोको न भवेन्नृपते शृणु। यथा तु मां न जानन्ति यत्करिष्याम्यहं प्रभो
I will live there, O king; be at ease, O ruler. Listen, so that you will not grieve on my account. Hear how I will act so that no one will recognize me.
छन्ना वत्स्याम्यहं यन्मां न विजानन्ति केचन। वृत्तं तच्च समाख्यास्ये शर्म तेस्तु विशांपते
I will dwell in concealment, so that no one will know me; I will tell you what I will do, so that you may be at ease, O lord of the people.