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.
एवं विराटेन समेत्य पाण्डवो लब्ध्वा च गोबल्लवतां यथेष्टतः। अज्ञातचर्यामवसन्महात्मा यथा रविश्चास्तगिरिं प्रविष्टः ।। 26
Thus, having met with Virata, the Pandava obtained the position of chief herdsman as he wished; the great soul lived in disguise, like the sun entering the mountain.
एवं विराटे न्यवसंश्च पाण्डवा यथा प्रतिज्ञाभिरमोघविक्रमाः । अबुद्धचर्यां चरितुं यथातथं समुद्रनेमीमभिशास्तुमुद्यताः ।। 27
Thus the Pandavas dwelt with Virata, as pledged, with unfailing valor; they lived incognito, striving as if to reach the rim of the ocean.
ततः कृष्णा सुकेशी सा दर्शनीया शुचिस्मिता। वेणीकेशान्समुत्क्षिप्य पीनवृत्तकुचा शुभा । जुगूहे दक्षिणे पार्श्वे मृदूनसितलोचना ।। 1
Then Krishna, with beautiful hair, lovely to behold and pure in smile, lifting her braided hair and full, rounded breasts, concealed herself at her right side, her eyes soft and cool.
वासश्च परिधायैकं कृष्णा सुमलिनं महत्। कृत्वा वेषं च सैरन्ध्र्याः कृष्णा व्यचरदार्तवत् ।। 2
Krishna put on a single, large, soiled garment, adopting the attire of Sairandhri, and wandered about in distress.
प्रविष्टा नगरं भीरूः सैरन्ध्रीवेषसंयुता। तां नराः परिधावन्तः स्त्रियश्च समुपाद्रवन् ।। 3
Entering the city, timid and dressed as Sairandhri, men and women rushed toward her.
अपृच्छंस्ते च तां दृष्ट्वा का त्वं किं च चिकीर्षसि। सा तानुवाच राजेन्द्र सैरन्ध्र्यहमुपागता। कर्म चेच्छामि वै कर्तुं तस्य या मां भरिष्यति ।। 4
Seeing her, they asked, 'Who are you, and what do you wish to do?' She replied to them, 'O king, I have come as Sairandhri; I wish to serve whoever will employ me.'
तस्या रूपेण वेषेण श्लक्ष्णया च गिरा तथा। न श्रद्दधानास्तां देवीमन्नहेतोरुपस्थिताम् ।। 5
Because of her appearance, attire, and gentle speech, they did not believe that the goddess had come seeking food.
विराटस्य तु कैकेयी भार्या परमसंमता। आलोकयन्ती ददृशे प्रासादाद्द्रुपदात्मजाम् ।। 6
Virata's wife, Kaikeyi, highly esteemed, saw her from the palace and recognized the daughter of Drupada.
सा समीक्ष्य तथारूपामनाथामेकवाससम्। स्त्रीभिश्च पुरुषैश्चापि सर्वतः परिवारिताम् ।। 7
She, appearing thus—unprotected and clad in a single garment, surrounded on all sides by women and men—was observed.
विराटभार्या तां देवी कारुण्याज्जातसंभ्रमा। अप्रेषयत्समीपस्थाः स्त्रियो वृद्धाश्च तत्पराः ।। 8
The queen of Virata, that noble lady, moved by compassion and suddenly concerned, sent for the elderly women who were nearby.