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.
तेनैवमुक्ते वचने नराधिपः कृताञ्जलिः प्रव्रजितं विलोक्य च । अथाब्रवीद्धृष्टमनाः शुभाक्षरं मनोनुगं सर्वसभागतं वचः ।। 44
When that speech was spoken, the king, with joined palms, gazed upon the ascetic, and then, his mind gladdened, addressed words of auspicious sound, agreeable to his heart, and fitting for the whole assembly.
ददामि ते हन्त वरं यदीप्सितं प्रशाधि मत्स्यान्यदि मन्यते भवान्। प्रिया हि धूर्ता मम चाक्षकोविदास्त्वं चापि देवो मम राज्यमर्हसि ।। 45
Indeed, I grant you a boon—whatever you desire; govern the Matsyas if you so wish. For my beloved dice-experts are dear to me, and you, O divine one, are worthy of my kingdom.
समानयानासनवस्त्रभोजनं प्रभ्रूतमाल्याभरणानुलेपनम्। स सार्वभौमोपम सर्वदाऽर्हसि प्रियं हि मन्ये तव नित्यदर्शनम् ।। 46
Let abundant seats, garments, food, garlands, ornaments, and unguents be brought for you; you are always worthy of honors like a universal emperor, for I consider your constant presence most dear.
ये त्वाऽभिधावेयुरनर्थपीडिता द्विजातिमुख्या यदि वेतरे जनाः। सर्वाणि कार्याण्यहमर्थितस्त्वया तेषां करिष्यामि न मेऽत्र संशयः ।। 47
If any foremost brahmins or other people, afflicted by misfortune, should approach you, whatever matters they request of you, I will accomplish them all—of this, have no doubt.
ममान्तिके यश्च तवाप्रियं चरेत्प्रवासये तं परिचिन्त्य मानवम् । यच्चापि किंचिद्वसु विद्यते मम प्रभुर्भवांस्तस्य वशी वसेह च ।। 48
Whoever in my presence acts in a way displeasing to you, I will send him away, considering what is proper; and whatever wealth exists here of mine, you shall be lord over it—remain here and rule as you wish.
अतोऽभिलाषः परमो न विद्यते न मे जितं किंचन धारये धनम्। न भोजनं किंचन संस्पृशेयं हविष्यभोजी निशि च क्षितीशयः ।। 49
Beyond this, I have no supreme desire; I do not hold any conquered wealth. I would not even touch food, for I subsist on sacrificial fare, O king, and sleep on the ground at night.
व्रतोपदेशात्समयो हि नैष्ठिको न क्रोधितव्यं नरदेव कस्यचित्। एवंप्रतिज्ञस्य ममेह भूपते निवासबुद्धिर्भविता तु नान्यथा ।। 50
By vow and instruction, my resolve is firm: I must not grow angry with anyone, O king. Having made this pledge, O ruler of men, my intention is to dwell here—there is no other way.
एवं वरं मात्स्य वृणे प्रदापितं कृति भविष्यामि वरेण तेऽनघ ।। 51
Thus, O Matsya, I accept the boon you have offered; I shall act according to your wish, O faultless one.
एवं तु राज्ञः प्रथमः समागमो बभूव मात्स्यस्य युधिष्ठिरस्य च। विराटराजस्य हि तेन सङ्गमो बभूव विष्णोरिव वज्रपाणिना ।। 52
Thus was the first meeting between King Matsya and Yudhishthira; the encounter between King Virata and him was like that of Vishnu with the wielder of the thunderbolt.
तमासनस्थं प्रियरूपदर्शनं निरीक्षमाणो न ततर्प भूमिपः। सभां च तां प्रज्वलयन्युधिष्ठिरः श्रिया यथा शक्रइव त्रिविष्टपम् ।। 53
The king, gazing at him seated there, pleasing in form, could not be satisfied; and Yudhishthira, radiant with splendor, illumined that assembly as Indra does his heavenly realm.