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.
स वै हयानैक्षत तानितस्ततः समीक्षमाणं च ददर्श मत्स्यराट्। दृष्ट्वा तथैनं स कुरूत्तमं तमः पप्रच्छ तान्सर्बसभासदस्तदा ।। 2
He examined the horses here and there, and as he was doing so, the king of the Matsyas noticed him; seeing that foremost of the Kurus, he asked all those present in the assembly about him.
को वा विजानाति पुराऽस्य दर्शनं योऽयं युवाऽभ्येति हि मासिकां सभाम् प्रियो हि मे दर्शनतोपि संमतो ब्रवीतु कश्चिद्यदि दृष्टवानिमम् ।। 3
'Who knows this young man, whose appearance is new to us, as he enters the monthly assembly? He is pleasing to me even at first sight; if anyone has seen him before, let them speak.'
अयं हयान्पश्यति मामकान्मुहुर्ध्रुवं हयज्ञो भविता विचक्षणः। प्रवेश्यतामेष समीपमाशु वै विभाति वीरो हि यथाऽमरस्तथा ।। 4
'He keeps looking at my horses again and again; surely, he is an expert in horse-sacrifice. Let him be brought near at once, for he shines like a hero, as if he were a god.'
वितर्कयत्येव हि मत्स्यराजनि त्वरन्कुरूणामृषभः सभामगात्। ततः प्रणम्योपनतः कुरूत्तमो विराटराजानमुवाच पार्थिवम् ।। 5
While the king of the Matsyas was pondering, the bull among the Kurus entered the assembly with haste; then, after bowing and approaching, that foremost of the Kurus addressed King Virata.
तवागतोऽहं पुरमद्य भूपते जिजीविषुर्वेतनभोजनार्थिकः। तवाश्वबन्धः सुभृतो भवाम्यहं कुरुष्व मामश्वपतिं यदीच्छसि ।। 6
'O king, I have come to your city today, seeking life, wages, and food. Let me be your well-kept horse-keeper; appoint me as master of the horses, if you wish.'
ददानि यानानि धनानि वेतनं न चाश्वसूतो भवितुं त्वमर्हसि। कुतोसि कस्यामि कथं त्वमागतो ब्रवीहि शिल्पं तव विद्यते च यत् ।। 7
'I will give you vehicles, wealth, and wages, but you should not be a mere horse-keeper. Tell me, where are you from, whose are you, how did you come here, and what skill do you possess?'
पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणां ज्येष्ठो राजा युधिष्ठिरः। तेनाहमश्वेषु पुरा प्रकृतः शत्रुकर्शन ।। 8
'I was formerly in charge of horses for King Yudhishthira, the eldest of the five sons of Pandu, O subduer of foes.'
अश्वानां प्रकृतिं वेद्मि विनयं चापि सर्वशः । दुष्टानां प्रतिपत्तिं च कृत्स्नं चैव चिकित्सितम् ।। 9
'I know the nature of horses and all their training; I understand fully how to manage the unruly and all methods of treatment.'
न कातरं स्यान्मम वाजिवाहनं न मेऽस्ति दुष्टा बडवा कुतो हयः। जानंस्तु मामाह स चापि पाण्डवो युधिष्ठिरो ग्रन्थिकमेव नामतः ।। 10
'No horse or mare under my care becomes timid or vicious; Yudhishthira the Pandava knows me only by the name Granthika.'
मातलिरिव देवपतेर्दशरथनृपतेः सुमत्र इव यन्ता। सुमह इव जामदग्रेस्तथैव तव शिक्षयाम्यश्वान् ।। 11
'As Mātali is charioteer to the lord of the gods, and Sumantra to King Dasharatha, and as Jāmadagni's son had Sumaha, so will I train your horses.'
युधिष्ठिरस्य राजेन्द्र नरराजस्य शासनात्। शतसाहस्रकोटीनामश्वानामस्मि रक्षिता ।। 12
'By the command of King Yudhishthira, lord of men, I have been the protector of a hundred thousand crores of horses.'
यदस्ति किंचिन्मम वाजिवाहनं तदस्तु सर्वं त्वदधीनमद्य वै। ये चापि केचिन्मम वाजियोधास्त्वदाश्रयाः सारथयश्च सन्तु मे ।। 13
'Whatever horses I possess, let them all be under your authority today; and whoever are my horsemen and charioteers, let them also be at your service.'
इदं तवेष्टं विहितं सुरोपम ...हि यत्ते प्रसमीक्षितं वरम्। ...ऽनुरूपं हयकर्म दृश्यते विभाति राजेव न कर्म वाजिनाम् ।। 14
This is your wish, arranged as you desire, O one like a god; indeed, what you have considered is a boon. Yet the horse-sacrifice appears improper; it shines like a king, but is not the true work of horses.
युधिष्ठिरस्यैव हि दर्शनेन मे समं तवेदं प्रियदर्श दर्शनम् । कथं नु भृत्यैः स विनाकृतो वने चरत्यनिन्द्यो रमते च पाण्डवः ।। 15
For me, seeing you is as pleasing as seeing Yudhishthira himself, O beloved one. How does the faultless Pandava, separated from his servants, dwell and find delight in the forest?
तथा स गन्धर्ववरोपमो युवा विराटराज्ञा मुदितेन पूजितः। न चैवमन्येऽपि विदुः कथंचन प्रियाभिरामं विचरन्तमन्तरा ।। 16
Thus, that youthful one, resembling the foremost among Gandharvas, honored by King Virata with joy, is not known in this way by others at all, as he wanders charmingly among his beloveds.
अथापरोऽदृश्यत वै शशी यथा हुतो हविर्भिर्हि यथाऽध्वरे शिखी। तथा समालक्ष्यत चारुदर्शनः प्रकाशयन्सूर्य इवाचिरोदितः ।। 1
Then another appeared, like the moon, like a sacrificial fire fed with offerings, like a flame in a ritual; so was he observed, beautiful to behold, shining like the sun newly risen.
तमाव्रजन्तं सहदेवमग्रणीर्नृपो विराटो नचिरात्समैक्षत। प्रैक्षन्त तं तत्र पृथक्समागताः सभागताः सर्वमनोहरप्रभम्। युवानमायान्तममित्रकर्शनं प्रमुक्तमभ्रादिव चन्द्रमण्डलम् ।। 2
As Sahadeva approached, King Virata soon saw him; those gathered there, each separately, watched him, radiant and captivating to all, a young man coming, destroyer of foes, released like the moon from the clouds.
यष्ट्या प्रमाणान्वितया सुदर्शनं दामानि पाशं च निबद्ध्य पृष्ठतः। मौर्वी च तन्त्रीं महतीं सुसंहितां बालैश्च तारैर्बहुभिः समावृताम् ।। 3
With a staff of proper measure, handsome, binding ropes and a noose behind him, and a great bowstring made of hemp, well assembled, surrounded by many young threads.
स चापि राजानमुवाच वीर्यवान्कुरुष्व मां पार्थिव गोष्ववस्थितम्। मया हि गुप्ताः पशवो भवन्तु ते प्रसन्ननिद्राः प्रभवोस्मि वल्लवः ।। 4
He spoke to the king, strong in valor: 'Place me among your cattle, O ruler; let your herds be protected by me. They will sleep peacefully, for I am skilled in tending cattle.'
न श्वापदेभ्यो न च रोगतो भयं न चापि दावान्न च तस्कराद्भयम्। पयःप्रभूता बहुला निरामया भवन्ति गावः सुभृता नराधिप ।। 5
There is no fear from wild beasts, nor from disease, nor from fire, nor from thieves; the cows, well cared for, will be abundant, full of milk, and healthy, O king.