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.
निशम्य राजा सहदेवभाषितं निरीक्ष्य माद्रीसुतमभ्यनन्दत्। उवाच हृष्टो मुदितेन चेतसा न बल्लवत्वं त्वयि वीर लक्षये ।। 6
Hearing Sahadeva's words and observing the son of Madri, the king welcomed him and said joyfully, 'O hero, I do not see the qualities of a cattle-herder in you.'
धैर्याद्वपुः क्षात्रमिवेह ते दृढं प्रकाशते कौरववंशजस्य वा। नापण्डितेयं तव दृश्यते तनुर्भवेह राज्ये मम मन्त्रधर्मभृत् ।। 7
Your composure and form here shine firmly like a warrior's, as befits a descendant of the Kaurava lineage; your body does not appear unlearned. Be a bearer of counsel and duty in my kingdom.
प्रशाधि मत्स्यान्सहराजकानिमान्बृहस्पतिः शत्रुयुतानिवामरान्। बलं च मे रक्ष सुवेष सर्वशो गृहाण खङ्गं प्रतिरूपमात्मः ।। 8
Rule over the Matsyas and their allied kings, as Brihaspati governs the gods surrounded by enemies; protect my forces well, O well-dressed one, and take up a sword worthy of yourself.
अनीककर्णाग्रधरो बलस्य मे प्रभुर्भवानस्तु गृहाण कार्मुकम् ।। 9
Be the commander at the head of my army; become the lord of my forces and take up the bow.
विराटराज्ञाऽभिहितः कुरूत्तमः प्रशस्य राजानमभिप्रणम्य च। उवाच मत्स्यप्रवरं महापतिः शृणुष्व राजन्मम वाक्यमुत्तमम् ।। 10
Addressed by King Virata, the best of the Kurus praised the king and bowed to him, then the great lord spoke to the foremost of the Matsyas: 'Hear, O king, my excellent words.'
बालो ह्यहं जातिविशेषदूषितः कुतोऽद्य मे नीतिषु युक्तमन्त्रता । स्वकर्मतुष्टाश्च वयं नराधिप प्रशाधि मां गोपरिरक्षणेऽनघ ।। 11
'I am young, tainted by my birth; how could I today be fit for counsel in matters of policy? We are satisfied with our own tasks, O king; appoint me to cattle protection, O faultless one.'
वैश्योस्मि नाम्नाऽहमरिष्टनेमिर्गोसङ्ख्य आसं कुरुपुङ्गवानाम् । वस्तुं त्वयीच्छामि विशांवरिष्ठ तान्राजसिंहान्न हि वेद्मि पार्थान् ।। 12
'I am a Vaishya by name, called Arishtanemi, skilled in cattle, among the foremost of the Kurus. I wish to dwell with you, O best among kings; I do not know the Pandavas.'
न जीवितुं शक्यमतोऽन्यकर्मणा न च त्वदन्यो मम रोचते विभो ।। 13
'It is not possible for me to live by any other work, nor does anyone but you please me, O lord.'
त्वं ब्राह्मणो वा यदि वाऽपि भूमिपः समुद्रनेमीश्वररूपवानसि। आचक्ष्व तत्वं त्वममित्रकर्शन न बल्लवत्वं त्वयि विद्यते समम् ।। 14
'Whether you are a Brahmin or a king, you appear as the lord of the ocean's rim; declare your true nature, O destroyer of enemies, for the role of cattle-herder does not suit you.'
कस्यामि राज्ञो विषयादिहागतः किं चापि शिल्पं तव विद्यते कृतम्। कथं त्वमस्मासु निवत्स्यसे सदा वदस्व किं चापि तवेह वेतनम् ।। 15
'From which king's domain have you come here? What skill do you possess and practice? How will you always reside among us? Tell me also what wage you seek here.'
पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणां ज्येष्ठो राजा युधिष्ठिरः। तस्याष्टौ शतसाहस्रं गवां वर्गाः शतंशतम् ।। 16
Among the five sons of Pandu, the eldest, King Yudhishthira, possessed one hundred groups of eight hundred thousand cows each.
अपरे दशसाहस्रा द्विस्तावन्तस्तथा परे। तेषां गोसङ्ख्य आसं वै तन्त्रीपालेति मां विदुः ।। 17
There were other groups numbering ten thousand, and twice as many elsewhere; people knew me as Tantripala, the keeper of the cows.
भूतं भव्यं भविष्यच्च यच्चान्यद्गोगतं क्वचित्। न मेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्समन्ताद्दशयोजनम् ।। 18
Whatever has been, is, or will be, and anything else related to cows anywhere within a radius of ten yojanas, nothing is unknown to me.
गुणाः सुविदिता ह्यासन्मया तस्य महात्मनः। आसीच्च स मया तुष्टः कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः ।। 19
I was well acquainted with the virtues of that great soul; King Yudhishthira of the Kurus was pleased with me.
अनेन गणिता गावो दुर्विज्ञेया महत्तराः। बहुक्षीरतरास्ता वै बह्व्यः सत्यः सपुत्रिकाः ।। 20
By this calculation, the cows are vast and difficult to comprehend; many are rich in milk, numerous, truthful, and with calves.
क्षिप्रं च गावो बहुला भवन्ति न तासु रोगो भवतीह कश्चित्। तैस्तैरुपयैर्विदितं मयैतदेतानि शिल्पानि मयि स्थितानि ।। 21
The cows quickly become abundant, and none among them suffer from disease; by various means I know this, and these skills reside in me.
ऋषभानपि जानामि राजन्पूजितलक्षणान्। येषां मूत्रमुपाघ्राय वन्ध्या अपि प्रसूयते ।। 22
I also know the bulls, O king, with honored qualities; by smelling their urine, even barren cows become fertile.
मत्स्याधिपो हर्षकलेन चेतसा माद्रीसुतं पाण्डवमभ्यभाषत। नैवानुमन्ये तव कर्म कुत्सितं महीं समग्रामभिपातुमर्हसि ।। 23
The king of the Matsyas, with a joyful heart, addressed the Pandava, son of Madri: 'I do not approve your lowly task; you deserve to rule the whole earth.'
अथ त्विदानीं तव रोचते विभो यथेष्टतो गव्यमवेक्ष मामकम्। त्वदर्पणा मे पशवो भवन्तु वै पशून्सपालान्भवते ददाम्यहम् ।। 24
But now, O mighty one, if you wish, examine my cattle as you please; let my livestock be under your care, I give you the animals and their herdsmen.
शतं सहस्राणि गवां हि सन्ति वर्णस्यवर्णस्य पृथग्गणानाम्। ददामि तेऽहं वरमीप्सितं च यत्त्वदर्पणा मे पशवो भवन्त्विति ।। 25
There are hundreds of thousands of cows, each group distinct; I grant you your desired boon, let my livestock be under your supervision.