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.
एवं स लब्ध्वा नृपतिः समागमं विराटराजेन नरर्षभस्तदा। उवास वीरः परमार्चितः सुखी न चास्य कश्चिच्चरितं बुबोध तत् ।। 54
Having thus obtained the king's company, the bull among men, honored supremely, dwelled happily with King Virata, and no one discerned his true identity.
अथापरस्यां दिशि भीमदर्शनो वृकोदरोऽदृश्यत सिंहविक्रमः। असिप्रवेके प्रतिमुच्य शाणिते खजां च दर्वी च करेण धारयन् ।। 1
Meanwhile, in another direction, Bhima—wolf-bellied, lion-like in stride—was seen, bearing a sharpened sword at his side and a ladle in his hand.
त्वचं च गोचर्ममयीं सुमर्दितां समुक्षितां पानकरागषाडवैः । किलासमालम्ब्य करेण चायसं सशृङ्गिबेरार्द्रकभूस्तृणाङ्कुरम् ।। 2
He carried a well-cured ox-hide, thoroughly softened and stained with the dregs of drinks, and in his hand, an iron staff, along with ginger, fresh grass, and shoots.
गम्भीररूपः परमेण तेजसा रविर्यथा लोकमिमं प्रकाशयन्। स कृष्णवासा गिरिराजसारवान् स मत्स्यराजं समुपेत्य तस्थिवान् ।। 3
Of deep form and supreme energy, shining like the sun illuminating this world, clad in black garments, adorned with mountain-like arms, he approached and stood before the king of the Matsyas.
सभागतो वारणयूथपोपमस्तमिस्रहा रात्रिमिवावभासयन्। सहस्रनेत्रावरजान्तकोपमस्त्रिलोकपालाधिपतिर्यथा हरिः ।। 4
Entering the assembly like a leader of elephant herds, dispelling gloom like the night lit up, he resembled the younger brother of the thousand-eyed one, or Hari, lord of the guardians of the three worlds.
तमाव्रजन्तं गजयूथपोपमं निरीक्षमाणो नवसूर्यवर्चसम्। भयात्समुद्विग्नविपण्णचेतनो दिशश्च सर्वाः प्रसमीक्ष्य चासकृत् ।। 5
Seeing him approach, like a lordly elephant, radiant as the newly risen sun, the king, his mind disturbed by fear, repeatedly glanced in all directions.
तमेकवस्त्रं परसैन्यवारणं सभाऽविदूरान्नृपतिर्नृपात्मजम्। समीक्ष्य वैक्लब्यमुपेयिवाञ्शनैर्जनाश्च भीताः परिसर्पिरे भृशम् ।। 6
Beholding that single-clad, enemy-subduing prince, not far from the assembly, the king grew anxious, and the people, greatly frightened, began to scatter.
अथाब्रवीन्मात्स्यपतिः सभागतान् भृशातुरोष्णं परिनिश्वसन्निव । कोऽयं युवा वारणराजसन्निभः सभामभिप्रैति हि मामिकामिमाम् ।। 7
Then the king of the Matsyas, greatly agitated and sighing hotly, spoke to those in the assembly: 'Who is this youth, resembling a lordly elephant, who now approaches my assembly?'
को वा विजानाति पुराऽस्य दर्शनं मृगेन्द्रशार्दूलगतिं हि मामकः। व्यूढान्तरांसो मृगराडिवोत्कटो य एष दिव्यः पुरुषः प्रकाशते ।। 8
Who indeed knows when this one was seen before? With the gait of a lion or tiger, my own man stands here; his broad shoulders are arrayed like a mighty beast, and this radiant man appears before us.
राजश्रिया ह्येष विभाति राजवद्विरोचते रुक्मगिरिप्रभोपमः। नाक्षत्रियो नूनमयं भविष्यति सहस्रनेत्रप्रतिमस्तथा ह्यसौ ।। 9
He shines with royal splendor, resplendent like a king, his brilliance like a golden mountain; surely, he cannot be a mere commoner—he resembles the thousand-eyed god himself.
रूपेण यश्चाप्रतिमो ह्ययं महान्महीमिमां शत्रः इवाभिपालयेत्। नाभूमिपोऽयं हि रतिर्ममेति च च्युतः समृद्ध्या नभसीव नाहुषः ।। 10
This great one, unmatched in form, could guard this whole earth like a foe; he is not a king, nor do I delight in him—he has fallen from prosperity, like Nahusha cast down from the sky.
वितर्कमाणस्य च तस्य पाण्डवः सभामतिक्रम्य वृकोदरोऽब्रवीत्। जयेति राजानमभिप्रमोदयन्सुखेन सभ्यं च सभागतं जनम् ।। 11
As the king pondered thus, Vrikodara, having entered the assembly, addressed the king, joyfully exclaiming 'Victory!' and gladdening both the king and all those present.
ततो नृपं वाक्यमुवाच पाण्डवो यथाऽनुपूर्व्यात्कृपयान्वितोत्तरम्। त्वां जीवितुं शत्रुहन्नागतोऽहं त्वमेव लोके परमो हि संश्रयः ।। 12
Then the Pandava spoke to the king, with words in proper order, filled with compassion: 'I have come, O slayer of foes, so that you may live; for you alone are the highest refuge in this world.'
नरेन्द्र शूद्रोस्मि चतुर्थवर्णभाग्गुरूपदेशात्परिचारकर्मकृत्। जानामि सूपांश्च रसांश्च संस्कृतान्मांसान्यपूपांश्च पचामि शोभनान् । रागप्रकाराश्च बहून्फलाश्रयान्महानसे मे न समोस्ति सूपकृत् ।। 13
O king, I am a Shudra, belonging to the fourth class, performing service as instructed by my elders; I know how to prepare soups and sauces, I cook meats and fine cakes, and I am skilled in many fruit-based dishes—there is no one in the kitchen who surpasses me in cooking.
तमब्रवीन्मत्स्यपतिः प्रहृष्टवत्प्रियं प्रगल्भं मधुरं विनीतवत्। न शूद्रतां कांचन लक्षयामि ते कुबेरचन्द्रेन्द्रदिवाकरप्रभ ।। 14
The king of the Matsyas replied to him, delighted, with kind, bold, sweet, and humble words: 'I see no sign of Shudra status in you, whose radiance is like Kubera, the moon, Indra, or the sun.'
हुताशनाशीविषतुल्यतेजसो न कर्म ते योग्यमिदं महानसे । न सूपकारो भवितुं त्वमर्हसि सुपर्णगन्धर्वमहोरगोपम ।। 15
Your brilliance is like fire or a venomous serpent; such work in the kitchen is not fitting for you. You should not be a cook, who are like Suparna, a Gandharva, or a great serpent.
अनीककर्णाग्रधरो ध्वजी रथी भवाद्य मे वारणवाहिनीपतिः। न नीचकर्मा भवितुं त्वमर्हसि प्रशासितुं भूमिमिमां त्वमर्हसि ।। 16
Today, you should be my commander, bearing weapons, with banners and chariots, leading my elephant army; you are not suited for lowly work—you are worthy to rule this earth.
चतुर्थवर्णोस्म्यहमुग्रशासन न वै वृणे त्वामहमीदृशं पदम्। जात्याऽस्मि शूद्रो बललेति नाम्ना जिजीविषुस्त्वद्विषयं समागतः ।। 17
I am of the fourth class, O stern ruler, and do not seek such a position from you; by birth I am a Shudra, named Ballava, and I have come to your land wishing only to live.
युधिष्ठिरस्यास्मि महानसे पुरा बभूव सर्वप्रभुरन्नपानदः। अथापि मामुत्सृजसे महीपते व्रजाम्यहं यावदितो यथागतम् ।। 18
I was once the chief cook in Yudhishthira's household, providing all food and drink; but if you dismiss me, O king, I shall depart from here as I came.
त्वमन्नसंस्कारविधौ प्रशाधि मां भवामि तेऽहं नरदेव सूपकृत् । बलेन तुल्यश्च न विद्यते मया नियुद्धशीलोस्मि सदा हि पार्थिव ।। 19
Command me in the preparation of food, O king, and I shall be your cook; there is no one equal to me in strength, and I am always skilled in wrestling, O ruler.