जघन्यतो वयं तत्र यास्यामो दिवसान्तरे। विषयं मत्स्यराजस्य सुसमृद्धं सुसंहितम् ।। 57
We shall go there from the rear on the following day, to the prosperous and well-defended territory of the king of the Matsyas.
सुशर्मणा गृहीते तु मत्स्यराजस्य गोधने। विराटः सैन्यमादाय त्रिगर्तैः सह योत्स्यति ।। 58
When Suśarman has seized the cattle of the Matsya king, Virata will take up his army and fight against the Trigartas.
अपरं दिवसं गास्तु तत्र गृह्णन्तु कौरवाः। गवार्थे पाण्डवास्तत्र योत्स्यन्ति कुरुभिः सह ।। 59
On the next day, let the Kauravas seize the cattle there; for the sake of the cows, the Pandavas will fight there together with the Kurus.
तथा गत्वा यथोद्देशं विराटनगरान्तिके। क्षिप्रं गोष्ठं समासाद्य गृह्णन्तु विपुलं धनम् ।। 60
Thus, having gone as planned to the vicinity of Virata's city, let them quickly reach the cattle-station and seize the abundant wealth.
गवां शतसहस्राणि श्रीमन्ति गुणवन्ति च। वयमस्य निगृह्णीमो द्विधा कृत्वा च वाहिनीम् ।। 61
Let us seize these hundreds of thousands of splendid and excellent cows, dividing our army into two.
ते स्म गत्वा यथोद्दिष्टं देशं मत्स्यमहीपतेः। संनद्धा रथिनः सर्वे सपताका बलोत्कटाः। प्रतिवैरं चिकीर्षन्तो गोषु गृद्धा महाबलाः ।। 62
Having gone as instructed to the territory of the Matsya king, all the chariot-warriors, fully armed and bearing banners, eager for battle and greedy for cattle, stood ready with their mighty forces.
आदत्त गाः सुशर्माऽथ कृष्णपक्षस्य चाष्टमीम् ।। 63
Then Suśarman seized the cows on the eighth day of the dark fortnight.
अपरे दिवसे सर्वे राजन्संभूय कौरवाः। नवम्यां ते न्यगृह्णन्त गोकुलानि सहस्रशः। कौरवास्तु महावीर्या मत्स्यानां विषयान्तरे ।। 64
On the next day, O king, all the Kauravas assembled and on the ninth day seized thousands of cattle-pens; the mighty Kauravas did so in another part of the Matsya territory.
ततस्तेषां महाराज तत्रैवामिततेजसाम्। छद्मलिङ्गप्रविष्टानां पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् ।। 1
There, O great king, among those of immeasurable energy, the Pandavas of great soul, who had entered in disguise, remained.
व्यतीतः समयः सम्यग्विराटनगरे सताम्। कुर्वतां तस्य कर्माणि वीराटस्य महीपतेः ।। 2
The appointed time passed well for them in the city of Virata, as they performed the duties of King Virata.
कीचके तु हते राजा विराटः परवीरहा। परां संभावनां चक्रे कुन्तीपुत्रे युधिष्ठिरे ।। 3
But when Kichaka was slain, King Virata, destroyer of enemy heroes, showed great honor to Yudhishthira, son of Kunti.
ततस्त्रयोदशस्वान्ते तस्य वर्षस्य भारत। शुशर्मणा गृहीतं तु गोधनं तरसा बहु ।। 4
Then, at the end of the thirteenth year, O Bharata, Suśarman forcefully seized a great herd of cattle.
ततः शब्दो महानासीद्रेणुश्च दिवमस्पृशत्। शङ्खदुन्दुभिघोषश्च भेरीणां च महास्वनः। गवाश्वरथनागानां निश्वनश्च पदातिनाम् ।। 5
Then a great sound arose, and dust reached up to the sky; the blaring of conches and drums, the deep roar of kettle-drums, and the loud noise of trumpets, mingled with the cries of cows, horses, chariots, elephants, and the shouts of foot soldiers.
एवं तैस्त्वभिनिर्याय मत्स्यराजस्य गोधने। त्रिगर्तैर्गृह्यमाणे तु गोपालाः प्रत्यषेधयन् ।। 6
Thus, when the cowherds set out with the cattle of the king of the Matsyas, and the Trigartas began to seize them, the cowherds resisted.
अथ त्रिगर्ता बहवः परिगृह्य धनं बहु । परिक्षिप्य हयैः शीघ्रै रथव्रातैश्च भारत। गोपालान्प्रत्ययुध्यन्त रणे कृत्वा जये धृतिम् ।। 7
Then many Trigartas, having seized much wealth, surrounded the cowherds with swift horses and groups of chariots, O Bharata, and fought them in battle, determined on victory.
ते हन्यमाना बहुभिः प्रासतोमरपाणिभिः । गोपाला गोकुले भक्ता वारयामासुरोजसा ।। 8
Though attacked by many wielding spears and maces, the devoted cowherds in the settlement strove to hold them off with all their strength.
परश्वथैश्च मुसलैर्भिण्डिपालैश्च मुद्गरैः। गोपालाः कर्षणैश्चित्रैर्जघ्नुरश्वान्समन्ततः ।। 9
With axes, clubs, slings, and heavy mallets, the cowherds struck at the horses all around with their various implements.
ते हन्यमानाः संक्रुद्धास्त्रिगर्ता रथयोधिनः । विसृज्य शरवर्षणि गोपानद्रावयन्बलात् ।। 10
Enraged, the Trigarta chariot-warriors, striking down the cowherds, unleashed volleys of arrows and forcefully drove the cowherds back.
हन्यमानेषु गोपेषु विमुखेषु विशांपते। ततो युवानः संभीताः श्वसन्तो रेणुगुण्ठिताः ।। 11
As the cowherds were being struck down and turned to flee, O lord of men, the young men, frightened, panting, and covered in dust, fled.
जवेन महता चैव गोपालाः पुरमाव्रजन्। विराटनगरं प्राप्य नरा राजानमब्रुवन् ।। 12
With great speed, the cowherds returned to the city; reaching Virata's capital, the men spoke to the king.
सभायां राजशार्दूलमासीनं पाण्डवैः सह। शूरैः परिवृतं योधैः कुण्डलाङ्गदधारिभिः ।। 13
They saw Virata, the tiger among kings, seated in the assembly with the Pandavas, surrounded by brave warriors adorned with earrings and armlets.
सद्भिश्च पण्डितैः सार्धं मन्त्रिभिश्चापि संवृतम् । दृष्ट्वा शीघ्रं तु गोपाला विराटमिदमब्रवन् ।। 14
With noble and learned counselors gathered around him, the cowherds quickly addressed Virata upon seeing him.
अस्मान्युधि विनिर्जित्य परिभूय सबान्धवान्। षष्टिं गवां सहस्राणि त्रिगर्ताः कालयन्ति । ता निवर्तय राजेन्द्र मा नेशुः पशवस्तव ।। 15
"Having defeated us in battle and insulted us along with our kin, the Trigartas are driving away sixty thousand of your cows; O king, stop them, do not let your cattle be taken away!"
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां गोपालानामरिंदमः। स राजा महतीं सेनां मात्स्यानां समवाहयत्। रथनागाश्वकलिलां पत्तिध्वजसमाकुलाम् ।। 16
Hearing the words of the cowherds, the king, destroyer of foes, assembled a great army of the Matsyas, filled with chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers bearing banners.
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च तनुत्राण्यथ भेजिरे। भानुमन्ति विवातानि सूपसेव्यानि भागशः ।। 17
The kings and princes then donned their armor, shining, well-fitted, and suitable for battle, each according to his rank.
पृथक्काञ्चनसन्नाहान्रथेष्वश्वानयोजयन् । उत्कृष्य पाशान्मौर्वीणां शूराश्चापेष्वयोजयन् ।। 18
Separately, they harnessed horses to chariots adorned with golden armor, and the heroes strung their bows, drawing the sinew-cords tight.
दृढमायसगर्भं तु कवचं तप्तकाञ्चनम् । विराटस्य प्रियो भ्राता शतानीकोऽभ्यहारयत् ।। 19
A strong, gold-plated mail, forged with skill, was brought for Virata by his beloved brother Shatanika.
सर्वभारसहं वर्म कल्याणपटलं दृढम्। शतानीकादवरजो मदिराक्षोऽभ्यहारयत् ।। 20
A sturdy, beautiful armor, able to withstand all blows, was brought by Madiraksha, the younger brother of Shatanika.
उत्सेधे यस्य पद्मानि शतं सौगन्धिकानि च। मृष्टहाटकपर्यन्तं सूर्यदत्तोऽभ्यहारयत् ।। 21
Suryadatta brought armor adorned with a hundred lotuses and fragrant blue lilies, its edges polished with pure gold.
दृढमायसगर्भं च श्वेतं रुक्मपरिष्कृतम्। विराटस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठो वीरः शङ्खोऽभ्यहारयत् ।। 22
The eldest son of Virata, the hero Shankha, brought a strong, white mail inlaid with gold.