गजांश्च सिंहांश्च समेयिवानहं सदा करिष्यामि तवानघ प्रियम्। न नीचकर्मा तव मादृशः प्रभो बलस्य नेताऽप्यबलो भवेदिति ।। 20
I have subdued elephants and lions, and will always do what pleases you, O faultless one; a man like me is not fit for lowly work, for even a leader of the strong may become powerless.
स्वकर्मतुष्टाश्च वयं नराधिप प्रशाधि मां सूदपदे यदीच्छसि। ये सन्ति मल्ला बलवीर्यसंमतास्तानेव योत्स्यामि तवाभिहर्पयन् ।। 21
We are content with our own duties, O king; command me in the role of cook, if you wish. I will challenge those wrestlers who are esteemed for their strength and valor.
तमेवमुक्ते वचने नराधिपः प्रत्यब्रवीन्मत्स्यपतिः प्रहृष्टवत्। सोहं न मन्ये तव कर्म तत्समं समुद्रनेमिं पृथिवीं त्वमर्हसि ।। 22
When he had spoken thus, the king of the Matsyas, delighted, replied: 'I do not consider such work fitting for you; you are worthy to rule the earth, like the rim of the ocean.'
त्रिलोकपालो हि यथा विराजसे तथाऽद्य मे विष्णुरिवातिरोचसे। यथा तु कामस्तव तत्तथा कृतं महानसे मे भव मे पुरस्कृतः । नराश्च मे तत्र मया सदाऽर्चिता भवाद्य तेषामधिपो मया कृतः ।। 23
Just as the lord of the three worlds shines, so do you appear to me today like Vishnu; but as you wish, so it shall be—be my chief cook. The men there have always been honored by me, and today I appoint you as their leader.
तथा स भीमो विहितो महानसे विराटराजस्य बभूव वै प्रियः। उवास राजन्न च तं पृथग्जनो बुबोध तस्यानुचरश्च कश्चन ।। 24
Thus Bhima was appointed as the chief cook in King Virata's kitchen and became dear to the king; he lived there, and no one recognized him, nor did any attendant suspect him.
अथापरोऽदृश्यत वर्णवान्युवा स्त्रीवेषधारी समलंकृतो भृशम्। प्रवालचित्रे प्रविमुच्य कुण्डले उभे च कम्बू परिपातुके तथा ।। 1
Then another appeared, youthful and radiant, dressed as a woman and richly adorned, with earrings shining like coral, and both arms adorned with conch bracelets.
कृष्णे च रक्ते च निबध्य वाससी शरीरवाञ्शुक्रबृहस्पतिप्रभः। बहूंश्च दीर्घांश्च विकीर्य मूर्धजान्महाभुजो मत्तगजेन्द्रविक्रमः ।। 2
Clad in garments of crimson and black, with his body shining like Shukra or Brihaspati, scattering his long, thick hair, that mighty-armed one strode forth with the gait of a maddened elephant.
क्लैब्येन वेषेण न भति भाति च ग्रहाभिपन्नो नभसीव चन्द्रमाः । गतेन चोर्वी परिकम्पयंस्तदा विराटमासाद्य सभासमीपतः ।। 3
Though dressed in the guise of a eunuch, he did not appear so; rather, he shone like the moon beset by planets in the sky, and as he walked, he seemed to make the earth tremble, approaching King Virata near the assembly hall.
तं प्रेक्ष्य राजोपगतं सभातले व्याजाप्रतिच्छन्नममित्रमर्दनम् । विराजमानं सुरराजवर्चसं सुतं सुरेन्द्रस्य गजेन्द्रविक्रमम् ।। 4
Seeing him enter the assembly hall, disguised yet truly a subduer of foes, radiant with the splendor of the king of the gods, the son of Indra, possessing the strength of a lordly elephant—
सर्वानपृच्छच्च समीपचारिणः कुतोऽयमायाति न मे पुरा श्रुतः। न चैनमूचुर्विदितं नरास्तदा सविस्मयं वाक्यमिदं नृपोऽब्रवीत् ।। 5
The king questioned all those nearby: 'Who is this man who has come? I have never heard of him before.' But none of the men present could say who he was, and the king, astonished, spoke these words.
गजेन्द्रलीलो मृगराजगामी वृषेक्षणो देवसुतोग्रतेजाः। पीनांसबाहुः कनकावदातः कोऽयं नरो मे नगरं प्रविष्टः ।। 6
With the bearing of an elephant, the stride of a lion, eyes like a bull, divine radiance, broad shoulders and arms, shining like gold—who is this man who has entered my city?
किमेष देवेन्द्रसुतः किमेष ब्रह्मात्मजो वा किमयं स्वयंभूः। उमासुतो वैश्रवणात्मजो वा प्रेक्ष्यैनमासीदिति मे वितर्कः ।। 7
Is he the son of Indra? Or perhaps the son of Brahma? Or is he the self-born one? Is he the son of Uma, or of Vaishravana? Seeing him, I am filled with such thoughts.
सभामतिक्रम्य स वासवोपमो निरीक्षमाणो बहुभिः सभागतैः। स तत्र राजनममित्रहाऽब्रवीद्बृहन्नलाहं नरदेव नर्तकी ।। 8
Then, surpassing the assembly like Vasava himself, observed by the many gathered there, he spoke to the king, 'O ruler of men, I am Brihannala, a dancer.'
वेणीं प्रकुर्यां रुचिरे च कुण्डले ग्रथे स्रजः प्रावरणानि संहरे। स्नानं चरेयं विमृजे च दर्पणं विशेषकेष्वेव च कौशलं मम ।। 9
I can braid hair, adorn with beautiful earrings, weave garlands, arrange garments; I can bathe, polish mirrors, and I am skilled in all the arts of adornment.
क्लीबेषु बालेषु जनेषु नर्तने शिक्षाप्रदानेषु च योग्यता मम। करोमि वेणीषु च पुष्पपूरकं न मे स्त्रियः कर्मणि कौशलाधिकाः ।। 10
Among eunuchs, children, and people, I am adept at teaching dance; I can fill braids with flowers, and in the work of women, none surpass me in skill.
इत्यर्जुनस्तं नरदेवमोजसा विज्ञाप्य तस्थौ विधिनाऽऽत्मनः क्रियाम्। तमब्रवीत्प्रांशुमुदीक्ष्य विस्मितो विराटराजोपसृतं महायशाः ।। 11
Thus did Arjuna, with energy, declare his abilities to the king and stood there as prescribed; and the illustrious King Virata, gazing at him in wonder, addressed him.
नार्हस्तु वेषोऽयमनूर्जितस्ते नापुंस्त्वमर्हं नरदेवसिंह । तवैव वेषः शुभवेषभूषणैर्विभूषितो भूतपतेरिव प्रभो ।। 12
This attire does not suit you, nor does effeminacy befit you, O lion among kings; your very appearance, adorned with auspicious ornaments, is like that of the lord of beings, O master.
विभाति भानोरिव रश्मिमालिनो घनावरुद्धे गगने घनैरिव। धनुर्हि मन्ये तव शोभयेद्भुजौ तथाहि पीनावतिमात्रमायतौ ।। 13
You shine like the sun wreathed in rays, even when the sky is covered with clouds; I think a bow would suit your strong, long arms, for they are thick and of great length.
प्रगृह्य चापं त्वनुरूपमात्मनो रक्षस्व देशं पुरमद्य सुस्थिरः। पुत्रेण तुल्यो भव मे बृहन्नले वृद्धोस्मि वित्तं प्रतिपादयामि ते ।। 14
Take up a bow worthy of yourself and protect this land and city with firmness; be to me as a son, O Brihannala, for I am old, and I will grant you wealth.
त्वं रक्ष मे सर्वमिदं पुरं प्रभो न षण्डतां कांचन लक्षयामि ते। प्रशाधि मत्स्यांस्तरसा विवर्धयन्ददामि राज्यं तव सत्यवागहम् ।। 15
Guard all my city, O lord; I see no trace of effeminacy in you. Rule over the Matsyas, increase their prosperity swiftly, and I promise you the kingdom, for I am true to my word.
तस्याग्रतः स्वानि धनूंषि पार्थिवो बहूनि दीर्घाणि च वर्णवन्ति च। ददौ स सज्यानि बलान्वितानि जिज्ञासमानः किमयं करिष्यति ।। 16
Then, before him, the king presented many fine, long, and splendid bows, already strung and strong, wishing to test what this man would do.
ततोऽर्जुनः क्लीबतरं वचोऽब्रवीन्न मे धनुर्धारितमीदृशं विभो। न चापि दृष्टं धनुरीदृशं क्वचिन्न मादृशाः सन्ति धनुर्धरा भुवि ।। 17
But Arjuna spoke in a softer voice: 'O lord, I have never wielded such a bow, nor have I ever seen one like this; there are no bowmen like me on earth.'
नृत्याम गायामि च वादयाम्यहं प्रानर्तने कौशलनैपुणं मम। तदुत्तरायाः परिधत्स्व नर्तने भवामि देव्या नरदेव नर्तकी ।। 18
I dance, I sing, I play instruments; in the art of dancing, I am skilled and accomplished. Therefore, let Uttara wear the upper garment; I will be the queen's dancer, O king.
ददामि ते तं हि वरं बृहन्नले सुतां हि मे नर्तय याश्च तादृशीः । ततो विराटः स्वयमाह्वयत्सुतां नराधिपस्तां च सुमध्यसुन्दरीम् ।। 19
I grant you this boon, Brihannala: teach my daughter to dance, and others like her.' Then King Virata himself summoned his daughter, that slender-waisted beauty.
उवाच चैनां मुदितेन चेतसा बृहन्नला नाम सखी भवत्वियम्। सुगात्रि संप्रीतिसुबद्धसौहृदा तवाङ्गने प्राणसमा च नित्यदा ।। 20
With a joyful heart, she said, 'Let this woman be your companion named Brihannala, O fair-limbed one. She is bound to you by deep affection and is as dear as life itself, ever devoted to you.'
प्रकामभक्ष्याभरणाम्बरा शुभा चरत्वियं सर्वजनेष्ववारिता। न दुष्कुलानामियमाकृतिर्भवेन्न वृत्तभेदी भवतीदृशो जनः ।। 21
She is adorned with abundant food, ornaments, and garments, and moves freely among all people without restraint. Such a bearing does not belong to those of low birth, nor does one of your kind act contrary to proper conduct.
संमन्त्र्य राजा विविधैः स्वमन्त्रिभिः परीक्ष्य चैनं प्रमदाभिराशु वै। अपुंस्त्वमप्यस्य निशम्य च स्थिरं ततः कुमारीपुरमुत्ससर्ज तम् ।। 22
The king, after consulting with his various counselors and having her swiftly examined by the women, and hearing with certainty of her impotence, then assigned her to the women's quarters.
स शिक्षयामास च गीतवदनं सुतां विराटस्य धनंजयः प्रभुः । सखीश्च तस्याः परिचारिकास्तथा प्रियश्च तस्याः स बभूव पाण्डवः ।। 23
There, Dhananjaya, the mighty Arjuna, taught King Virata's daughter the arts of song and music; he also became dear to her, as well as to her companions and attendants, acting as their beloved friend.
तथा स तत्रैव धनंजयोऽवसत्प्रियाणि कुर्वन्त्सह ताभिरात्मवान्। तथा गतं तत्र न जझिरे जना बहिश्चरा वाऽप्यथवेतरे जनाः ।। 24
Thus, Dhananjaya dwelled there, self-controlled, performing pleasing acts together with them; and so, no one there suspected anything, nor did those outside or any others.
अथापरोऽदृश्यत पाण्डवः प्रभुर्विराटराजे तुरगान्समीक्षति। तमापतन्तं ददृशुः पृथग्जनाः प्रमुक्तमभ्रादिव चन्द्रमण्डलम् ।। 1
Then another mighty Pandava was seen, observing the horses of King Virata; as he approached, the people saw him like the full moon emerging from the clouds.