गजैरुदीर्मं तुरगैश्च सङ्कुलं मृगद्विपैः कुब्जगणैः समावृतम् । सितोच्छ्रितोष्णीषनिरुद्धमूर्धजं विचित्रवैडूर्यविकारकुण्डलम् । विराटमायाच्च युधिष्ठिरस्तदा बृहस्पतिः शक्रमिव त्रिविष्टपे ।। 14
The hall was crowded with elephants, horses, wild beasts, and dwarfs, filled with people, heads bound with white turbans, adorned with varied sapphire earrings; and Yudhishthira entered Virata’s presence like Brihaspati approaching Indra in heaven.
तमाव्रजन्तं प्रसमीक्ष्य पाण्डवं विराटराजो मुदितेन चक्षुषा । पप्रच्छ चैनं स नराधिपो मुहुर्द्विजाश्च ये चास्य सभासदस्तदा ।। 15
Seeing the Pandava approaching, King Virata, with delighted eyes, questioned him repeatedly, as did the Brahmins and all those present in the assembly.
को वा विजानाति पुराऽस्य दर्शनं युवा सभां योऽयमुपैति मामिकाम्। रूपेण सारेण विराजयन्महीं श्रिया ह्ययं वैश्रवणो द्विजो यथा ।। 16
Who knows where this youth has been seen before, who now enters my assembly, illuminating the earth with his beauty and excellence, like the god of wealth among Brahmins?
मृगेन्द्रराड्वारणयूथपोपमः प्रभात्ययं काञ्चनपर्वतो यथा। विराजते पावकसूर्यसन्निभं सचन्द्रनक्षत्र इवांशुमान्ग्रहः ।। 17
He shines like a lion among kings, like a golden mountain, radiant as fire or the sun, like a planet with the moon and stars.
न दृश्यतेऽस्यानुचरो न कुञ्जरो न चोष्णरश्म्यावरणं समुच्छ्रितम् । न कुण्डलं नाङ्गदमस्य न स्रजो विचित्रिताङ्गश्च रथश्रतुर्युजः ।। 38
He has no attendant, no elephant, nor a high sunshade; he wears neither earrings nor armlets nor garlands, yet his limbs are splendid, like a charioteer yoked to horses.
क्षात्रं च रूपं हि बिभर्त्ययं भृशं गजेन्द्रशार्दूलमहर्षभोपमः । अभ्यागतोऽस्माननलंकृतोपि सन् विरोचते भानुरिवाचिरोदितः ।। 19
He bears the appearance of a true Kshatriya, resembling a lord of elephants, a tiger, or a great bull; though he comes to us unadorned, he shines like the newly risen sun.
विभात्ययं क्षत्रिय एव सर्वथा विराट इत्येवमुवाच तं प्रति। ससागरान्तामयमद्य मेदिनीं प्रशासितुं चार्हति वासवोपमः ।। 20
In every way he appears to be a Kshatriya, said Virata regarding him; today he is worthy to rule this earth bounded by the seas, like Indra himself.
नाक्षत्रियो नूनमयं भविष्यति मूर्धाभिषिक्तः प्रतिभाति मां प्रति । तुल्यं हि रूपं प्रतिदृश्यतेऽस्य गजस्य सिंहस्य तथर्षभस्य ।। 21
Surely this is no non-Kshatriya, for he seems to me as one anointed on the head; his form matches that of an elephant, a lion, or a bull.
यमेष कामं परिमार्गते द्विजः स चास्य सर्वः क्रियतामसंशयम् । प्रियं च मे दर्शनमीदृशे जने द्विजेषु मुख्येषु तथाऽतिथिष्वपि ।। 22
Whatever this Brahmin desires, let it all be done for him without doubt; for me, the sight of such a person is dear, whether among foremost Brahmins or honored guests.
धनेषु रत्नेष्वथ गोषु वेश्मसु प्रकामतो मे विचरत्ववारितः ।। 23
Let him freely move among my wealth, jewels, cows, and houses, unhindered, as he wishes.
एवं ब्रुवाणस्तमनन्ततेजसं विराजमानं सहसोत्थितो नृपः। अन्येन रूपेण समीपमागतं त्रिदण्डकुण्ड्यङ्कुशशिक्यपाणिनम् ।। 24
Thus speaking, the king at once rose up before that radiant one, who had come near in another form, bearing a triple staff, water-pot, goad, and bag in hand.
समुत्थिता सा हि सभा सपार्थिवा सविप्रराजन्यविशा सशूद्रका । सभागत प्रेक्ष्य तपन्तमर्चिषां विनिःसृतं राहुमुखाद्यथा रविम् ।। 25
Then the entire assembly—kings, Brahmins, nobles, and commoners—rose up, beholding him blazing like the sun emerging from Rahu’s mouth.
स तेन पूर्वं जयतां भवानिह द्विजातिनोक्तोऽभिमुखः कृताञ्जलिः । जयं जयार्हेण समेत्य वर्धितो विराटराजो ह्यभिवादयच्च तम् ।। 26
He, the foremost of conquerors, was first addressed here by the twice-born; approaching with joined palms, King Virata, worthy of victory, greeted him and offered his respects.
तमब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिरेष पार्थिवो विराटराजो मधुराक्षरं वचः। प्राप्तः कुतस्त्वं भगवन्किमिच्छसि क्व यास्यसे किं करवाणि ते द्विज ।। 27
To him, the king Virata, with joined palms, spoke sweet words: 'From where have you come, venerable one? What do you desire? Where will you go? What shall I do for you, O twice-born?'
श्रुतं च शीलं च कुलं च शंस मे गोत्रं तथा नाम च देशमेव ते। सत्यप्रतिज्ञा हि भवन्ति साधवो विशेषतः प्रव्रजिता द्विजातयः ।। 28
Tell me of your learning, conduct, lineage, gotra, name, and country; for the virtuous, especially wandering twice-borns, are known for their truthfulness.
यथाऽनुरूपं प्रचरामि ते त्वहं न चावमन्ता न तवाभिभाषितम् । अपूजिता ह्यग्निसमा द्विजातयः कुलं दहेयुः सविषा इवोरगाः ।। 29
I will act towards you as is proper; I will not disregard you, nor your words. For unhonored twice-borns, equal to fire, may burn a family like venomous serpents.
सर्वां च भूमिं तव दातुमुत्सहे सदण्डकोशां विसृजामि ते पुरम् । कस्यासि राज्ञो विषयादिहागतः किं कर्म चात्राचरसि द्विजोत्तम ।। 30
I am able to give you the whole land, with treasury and army; I will relinquish my city to you. From which king's domain have you come here? What task do you perform here, best of twice-borns?
एवं ब्रुवाणं तमुवाच पार्थिवं युधिष्ठिरो धर्ममवेक्ष्य चासकृत् । सत्यं वचः को न्विह वक्तुमुत्सहेद्यथाप्रतिज्ञं तु शृणुष्व पार्थिव ।। 31
To the king who spoke thus, Yudhishthira replied, mindful of righteousness: 'Who here could speak words truly as promised? But listen, O king, to my truthful declaration.'
श्रुतं च शीलं च कुलं च कर्म च शृणुष्व मे जन्म च देशमेव च । गुरूपदेशान्नियमाच्च मे व्रतं कुलक्रमार्थं पितृभिर्नियोजितम् ।। 32
Hear from me my learning, conduct, lineage, occupation, birth, and country; my vow is from the instruction of my teachers and discipline, established by my ancestors for the sake of family tradition.
द्विजो व्रतेनास्मि न च स्वतः प्रभो संमुण्डितः प्रव्रजितस्त्रिदण्डभृत् । इदं शरीरं मम पश्य मानुषं समावृतं पञ्चभिरेव धातुभिः ।। 33
I am a twice-born, observing a vow, not by my own will, O lord, shaven-headed, a wandering ascetic bearing the triple staff. Behold this human body of mine, composed of the five elements.
ममेह पञ्चेन्द्रियगात्रदर्शिनो वदन्ति पञ्चैव पितॄन्यथा श्रुतिः । मनुष्यजातित्वमचिन्तयन्नहं न चास्मि तुल्यः पितृभिः स्वभावतः ।। 34
Those who see my body with its five senses say I have five fathers, as the scriptures declare. Though I am born as a human, I do not consider myself equal to my fathers by nature.
कङ्को हि नाम्ना विषयं तवागतो व्रती द्विजातिः स्वकृतेन कर्मणा। द्यूतप्रसङ्गादधनोऽस्मि राजन्सत्यप्रतिज्ञा व्रतिनश्चरामः ।। 35
By name Kanka, I have come to your realm, a twice-born observing a vow, by my own actions. Because of my attachment to dice, I am poor, O king; we who keep vows act truthfully.
युधिष्ठिरस्यापि सखाऽभवं पुरा गृहप्रवेशी च शरीरमेव च। गृहे च तस्योपितवानहं सुखं राजाऽस्मि तस्य स्वपुरेऽभवं पुरा ।। 36
Formerly, I was a friend of Yudhishthira, entering his house and his very person. I dwelt happily in his home, and once was a king in his own city.
ममाज्ञया तत्र विचेरुरङ्गना मम प्रियार्थं दमयन्ति वाजिनः । मया कृतं तस्य पुरे तु यत्पुरा न तत्कदाचित्कृतवाञ्जनोऽन्यथा ।। 37
By my command, the women there moved about for my pleasure, and Damayanti tamed the horses for my sake. Whatever I did in his city before, I never did otherwise at any time.
सोहं पुरा तस्य वयस्समः सखा चरामि सर्वां वसुधां सुदुःखितः । न तु प्रशान्तिं क्वचिदाप्तवानहं व्रतोपदेशान्नियमेन भारिकः ।। 38
Once, I was his friend, equal in age, but now I wander the whole earth, greatly afflicted. Nowhere have I found peace, burdened by the discipline of my vow.
वैयाघ्रपद्योस्मि नरेन्द्र गोत्रतस्तदेव सौख्यं मृगयामहे वयम्। कृतज्ञभावेन मयाऽनुकीर्तितं युधिष्ठिरस्यात्मसमस्य चेष्टितम् ।। 39
By gotra, I am of the Vaiyāghrapadya lineage, O king; that is our happiness, we pursue the hunt. Out of gratitude, I have recounted the deeds of Yudhishthira, who is equal to myself.
इमं हि मोक्षाश्रममास्थितस्य मे युधिष्ठिरस्तुल्यगुणो भवानपि । न मेऽस्ति माता न पिता न बान्धवा न मेऽस्ति रूपं न रतिर्न सन्ततिः ।। 40
Now, having taken up the path of renunciation, O king, you too are equal in virtue to Yudhishthira. I have no mother, no father, no relatives, no form, no pleasure, no offspring.
सुखं च दुःखं च हि तुल्यमद्य मे प्रियाप्रिये तुल्यगते गतागते। मुक्तोस्मि कामाच्च धनाच्च सांप्रतं त्वदाश्रये वस्तुमिहाभ्युपागतः ।। 41
For me, happiness and sorrow are now the same, as are the pleasant and unpleasant, coming and going. I am now freed from desire and wealth, and have come here to dwell under your protection.
संवत्सरेणेह समाप्यते त्विदं मम व्रतं दुष्करकर्मकारिणः। ततो भवन्तं परितोष्य कर्मभिः पुनर्व्रजिष्ये च कुतूहलं यतः ।। 42
Within a year, my vow, which is difficult to perform, will be completed here. Then, having pleased you with my service, I will depart again, wherever curiosity leads me.
अक्षान्निवप्तुं कुशलोस्म्वहं सदा पराजितः शकुनिरुतानि चिन्तयन् । मृगद्विजानां च रुतानि चिन्तयन्निराश्रयः प्रव्रजितोस्मि भिक्षुकः ।। 43
I am always skilled in casting dice, though always defeated, pondering the cries of birds. Reflecting on the calls of beasts and birds, homeless, I wander as a mendicant.