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.
शतसूर्यं शतावर्तं शतबिन्दु शताक्षिमत्। अभेद्यकल्पं मत्स्यानां राजा कवचमाहरत् ।। 23
The king of the Matsyas brought forth armor for the fish warriors, named Hundred-Suns, Hundred-Turns, Hundred-Drops, Hundred-Eyed, and of impenetrable form.
ततो नानातनुत्राणि स्वानिस्वानि महाबलाः। युयुत्सवोऽभ्यनह्यन्त देवकल्पाः प्रहारिणः ।। 24
Then, those mighty warriors, eager for battle and resembling the gods, each donned their own armor.
सोपस्करेषु शुभ्रेषु महत्सु च महारथाः । पृथक्काञ्चनसन्नाहान्रथेष्वश्वानयोजयन् ।। 25
The great chariot-warriors yoked golden harnesses separately to their splendid, large chariots, along with their horses.
सूर्यचन्द्रप्रतीकाशे मणिहेमविभूषिते। महाप्रमाणं मत्स्यस्य ध्वजमुच्छ्रियते रथे ।। 26
On the chariot of Matsya, a great banner was raised, adorned with jewels and gold, shining like the sun and moon.
ध्वजान्बहुविधाकारान्सौवर्णान्हेममालिनः। यथास्वं क्षत्रियाः शूरा रथेषु समयोजयन् ।। 27
The heroic Kshatriyas fitted to their chariots banners of many shapes, made of gold and decorated with golden garlands, each according to their own.
रथेषु युज्यमानेषु कङ्को राजानमब्रवीत् । मया ह्यस्रं चतुर्वर्गमवाप्तमृषिसत्तमात् ।। 28
As the chariots were being yoked, Kanka spoke to the king: 'By me, O best of sages, the fourfold aim of life has been attained.'
दंशितो रथमास्थाय पदं निर्याम्यहं गवाम्। अयं च बलवाञ्छरो वललो दृश्यतेऽनघ ।। 29
Having been challenged, I mount the chariot and go forth on foot for the cows; and here is a strong arrow, curved, visible, O faultless one.
गोसङ्ख्यमश्वबन्धं च संयोजय रथेषु वैः। नैतेन जातु युध्द्येयुर्गवार्थमिति मे मतिः ।। 30
Join the cow-count and horse-bond to the chariots; in my opinion, they would never fight for the sake of the cows.
अथ मात्स्योऽब्रवीद्राजा शतानीकं जघन्यजम्। कङ्कश्च वललः सूदो दामग्रन्थिश्च वीर्यवान् ।। 31
Then the Matsya king spoke to Shatanika, the youngest; Kanka, Valala, the charioteer, and Damagranti, the mighty.
तन्त्रिपालश्च गोसङ्ख्यो यथा ते पुरुषर्षभाः । शूराः सुवीराः पुरुषा नागराजवरोपमाः । युद्ध्येयुरिति मे बुद्धिर्वर्तते नात्र संशयः ।। 32
And Tantripala and Gosaṅkhya, as well as those foremost men—heroes, excellent warriors, men resembling great serpent kings—my mind holds that they will fight; there is no doubt.