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.
महाकाया महावीर्याः कालकेया इवासुराः। वीर्योन्मत्ता बलोदग्रा राज्ञा समभिपूजिताः ।। 15
They were of great stature and immense strength, like the Kalakeya demons; intoxicated with their prowess, proud of their power, and honored by the king.
सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाः स्ववदाता मनस्विनः। असकृल्लब्धलक्षास्ते रङ्गे पार्थिवसन्निधौ ।। 16
With lion-like shoulders, hips, and necks, fair-skinned and noble-minded, they had repeatedly won prizes in the arena before the king.
तेषामेको महानासीत्सर्वमल्लानथाह्वयत्। व्यावल्गमानो ददृशे गर्जितोद्गतिभिः स्थितः ।। 17
Among them, one stood out as mighty, challenging all the wrestlers; he was seen leaping about, roaring, and standing firm with powerful movements.
वित्रस्तमनसः सर्वे मल्लास्ते हतचेतसः । अवाङ्भुखाश्च भीताश्च मल्लाश्चान्ये विचेतसः ।। 18
All the wrestlers were terrified in mind, their spirits broken; some were downcast and fearful, others confused and disheartened.
व्यसुत्वमपरे चैव वाञ्छन्ति प्रतिविह्वलाः। गां प्रवेष्टुमथेच्छन्ति खं गन्तुमिव चोत्थिताः ।। 19
Some, overwhelmed, wished to flee, anxiously desiring to enter the earth or rise into the sky.
त्रस्ताः शान्ता विषणाङ्गा निःशब्दं विह्वलेक्षणाः । विराटराजमल्लास्ते भग्नदर्पा हतप्रभाः ।। 20
Frightened, subdued, their bodies dispirited, silent and with anxious glances, the wrestlers of King Virata stood with their pride shattered and their brilliance lost.
मल्लेन्द्रनिहताः सर्वे न किंचित्प्रवदन्ति ते। मल्ल उद्वीक्ष्य तान्मल्लांस्रस्तान्वाक्यमुवाचह ।। 21
All the wrestlers, defeated by the lord of wrestlers, said nothing; the champion looked at them, fallen, and spoke these words.
आगतं मल्लराजं मां कृत्स्ने पृथिविमण्डले । सिंहव्याघ्रगणैः सार्धं क्रीडन्तं विद्धि भूपते ।। 22
Know, O king, that the king of wrestlers has come to me from the whole earth, playing together with groups of lions and tigers.
मल्लेन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा बलदर्पसमन्वितम् । विराटो वीक्ष्य तान्मल्लांस्त्रस्तान्वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। 23
Hearing the words of the lord of wrestlers, filled with strength and pride, Virata looked at the terrified wrestlers and spoke.
अनेन सह मल्लेन को योद्धुं शक्तिमान्नरः ।। 24
Who among men is capable of fighting with this wrestler?