नाहं शक्या विराटेन यद्वा चान्येन केनचित्। देवगन्धर्वयक्षैर्वा द्रष्टुं दुष्टेन चेतसा ।। 69
Neither King Virata nor anyone else, not even gods, Gandharvas, or Yakshas with evil intent, are able to look upon me.
गन्धर्वाः पालयन्ते मां सुकुलाः पञ्च सुव्रताः । पुत्रा देवादिदेवानां सूर्यपावकवर्चसः ।। 70
Five noble Gandharvas, sons of the foremost gods, radiant as the sun and fire, protect me, steadfast in their vows.
यश्च दुःशीलवान्मर्त्यो मां स्पृशेद्दुष्टचेतसा। स तामेव निशां शीघ्रं शयीत मुसलैर्हतः ।। 71
Any man of wicked conduct who touches me with evil intent will swiftly meet his end that very night, struck down by clubs.
यस्यापि हि शतं पूर्णं बान्धवानां भवेदपि। सहस्रं वा विशालाक्षि कोटिर्वापि सहस्रिका । दुष्टचित्तश्च मां ब्रूयान्न स जीवेत्तवाग्रतः ।। 72
Even if someone has a hundred, a thousand, or even a crore of relatives, O wide-eyed one, if he addresses me with evil intent, he will not live before you.
न तस्य त्रिदशा देवा नासुरा न च पन्नगाः। तेभ्यो गन्धर्वराजेभ्यस्त्राणं कुर्युरसंशयम् ।। 73
Neither the gods of the thirty-three, nor the Asuras, nor the serpents, nor even the kings of the Gandharvas could protect such a one, without doubt.
सुदेष्णे विश्वस त्वं मां स्वजने बान्धवेऽपि वा । नाहं शक्या नरैर्द्रष्टुं न च मे वृत्तमीदृशम् ।। 74
O Sudeshna, trust me, whether among your own people or relatives; no man can look upon me, nor is my conduct of such a kind.
यो मे न दद्यादुच्छिष्टं न च पादौ प्रधावयेत्। प्रीयेरंस्तेन वासेन गन्धर्वाः पतयो मम ।। 75
If anyone does not offer me his leftovers or wash my feet, my Gandharva husbands would be pleased with such a residence.
यो हि मां पुरुषो गृद्ध्येद्यथाऽन्याः प्राकृतस्त्रियः। तामेव स इमां रात्रिं प्रविशेदपरां तनुम् ।। 76
If any man should covet me as ordinary men do other women, that very night he would enter another body.
न चाप्यहं चालयितुं शक्या केनचिदङ्गने। दुःखशीलाश्च गन्धर्वास्त इमे बलिनः प्रियाः । एवं निवसमानायां मयि मा ते भयं हि भूत् ।। 77
Nor can any woman move me from my resolve; these Gandharvas, my beloveds, are fierce by nature and strong. While I dwell here, let there be no fear for you.
एवमुक्ता तु सैरन्ध्र्या सुदेष्णा वाक्यमब्रवीत्। वसेह मयि कल्याणि यदि ते वृत्तमीदृशम् ।। 78
Thus addressed by Sairandhri, Sudeshna spoke these words: 'Stay here with me, O blessed one, if your conduct is truly so.'
कश्च ते दातुमुच्छिष्टं पुमानर्हति भामिनि । प्रसारयेच्च कः पादौ लक्ष्मीं दृष्ट्वैव बुद्धिमान् ।। 79
O beautiful lady, what man is worthy to offer you leftovers, or who, seeing your fortune, would wisely ask you to stretch out your feet?
एवमाचारसंपन्ना एवं देवपरायणा। रक्ष्या त्वमसि भूतानां सावित्रीवद्विजन्मनाम् ।। 80
Endowed with such conduct, devoted to the gods in this way, you are to be protected among beings, like Sāvitrī among the twice-born.
देवता इव कल्याणि पूजिता वरवर्णिनी। वस भद्रे मयि प्रीता प्रीतिर्हि मयि वर्तते। सर्वकामैः प्रमुदिता निरुद्विग्नमनाः सुखम् ।। 81
O auspicious one, with radiant complexion, honored like a goddess, dwell happily with me, pleased, for my affection abides with you; rejoice in all desires, with a mind free from anxiety.
सुदेष्णयैवमुक्ता सा संप्रीता चारुहासिनी। निर्विशङ्का विराटस्य विवेशान्तःपुरं सुखम् ।। 82
Thus addressed by Sudeshna, she of lovely smile, being pleased and without fear, entered Virata's inner chambers comfortably.
याज्ञसेनी सुदेष्णां तु शुश्रूपन्ती विशांपते। अवसत्परिचारार्हा सुदुःखं जनमेजय ।। 83
O Janamejaya, Yajnaseni, serving Sudeshna and deserving of service, dwelled there, though enduring great hardship.
एवं विराटे न्यवसंस्तु पाण्डवाः कृष्णा तथाऽन्तःपुरमेत्य शोभना। अज्ञातचर्यां प्रतिरुद्धमानसा यथाऽग्रथो भस्मनि गूढतेजसः ।। 84
Thus, in Virata's city, the Pandavas and Krishna lived, entering the inner quarters, their true natures concealed, like fire hidden in ashes.
एवं विराटनगरे वसन्तः सत्यविक्रमाः। अत ऊर्ध्वं नरव्याघ्राः किमकुर्वत पाण्डवाः ।। 1
Dwelling thus in the city of Virata, what did the tiger-like Pandavas, steadfast in truth and valor, do next?
एवं ते न्यवसंस्तत्र प्रच्छन्नाः कुरुनन्दनाः । आराधयन्तो राजानां यदकुर्वत तच्छृणु ।। 2
There, the sons of Kuru lived in concealment; hear now what they did to please the king.
युधिष्ठिरः सभास्तारः सभ्यानामभवत्प्रियः । तथैव च विराटस्य सपुत्रस्य विशांपते ।। 3
Yudhishthira, master of the assembly, became dear to the members and likewise to King Virata and his son.
स ह्यक्षहृदयज्ञस्तान्क्रीडयामास पाण्डवः। अक्षबद्धान्यथाकामं सूत्रबद्धानिव द्विजान् ।। 4
That Pandava, skilled in the art of dice, played with them, binding the dice as he wished, as a Brahmin binds with a thread.
अज्ञातं च विराटस्य विजित्य वसु धर्मराट्। भ्रातृभ्यः पुरुषव्याघ्रो यथेष्टं संप्रयच्छति ।। 5
Unrecognized by Virata, the righteous king, having won wealth, would distribute it as he wished to his brothers, like a tiger among men.
भीमसेनोपि मांसानि भक्ष्याणि विविधानि च । अतिसृष्टानि मत्स्येन विक्रीणन्निव भ्रातृषु ।। 6
Bhimasena, too, received various meats and delicacies, and, as if selling them, distributed them among his brothers.
वासांसि परिजीर्णानि लब्धान्यन्तःपुरेऽर्जुनः । विक्रीणन्निव सर्वेभ्यः पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रयच्छति ।। 7
Arjuna, obtaining worn garments from the inner chambers, would, as if trading, give them to all the Pandavas.
नकुलोपि धनं लब्ध्वा कृते कर्मणि वाजिनाम्। तुष्टे तस्मिन्नरपतौ पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रयच्छति ।। 8
Nakul, having received wealth for his work with horses, when the king was pleased, would give it to the Pandavas.
सहदेवोपि गोपानां वेषमास्थाय पाण्डवः। दधि क्षीरं घृतं चैव पाण्डवेभ्यः प्रयच्छति ।। 9
Sahadeva, too, assuming the guise of a cowherd, would give curd, milk, and ghee to the Pandavas.
कृष्णा तु सर्वान्भ्रातॄंस्तान्निरीक्षन्ती तपस्विनी । यथा पुनरविज्ञाता तथा चरति भामिनी ।। 10
Krishna, the ascetic lady, observing all her brothers, conducted herself so as to remain unrecognized.
एवं संभावयन्तस्ते तदाऽन्योन्यं महारथाः। विराटनगरे चेरुः पुनर्गर्भधृता इव ।। 11
Thus, honoring one another, those great chariot-warriors moved about in Virata's city, as if bearing a secret within.
साशङ्का धार्तराष्ट्रस्य भयात्पाण्डुसुतास्तदा । प्रेक्षमाणास्तदा कृष्णामूपुश्छन्ना नराधिप ।। 12
Then, out of fear of Dhritarashtra's sons, the Pandavas, watching Krishna, remained concealed, O lord of men.
अथ मासे चतुर्थे तु शङ्करस्य महोत्सवः। आसीत्समृद्धो मत्स्येषु पुरुषाणां सुसंमतः ।। 13
Then, in the fourth month, a grand festival for Shankara was held, splendid among the Matsyas, and greatly esteemed by the people.
तत्र मल्लाः समापेतुर्दिग्भ्यो राजन्सहस्रशः ।। 14
There, wrestlers gathered from all directions, O King, by the thousands.