Sahadeva Enters Virata's Service as a Cowherd

Verse 1 (4.13.1)

अथापरोऽदृश्यत वै शशी यथा हुतो हविर्भिर्हि यथाऽध्वरे शिखी । तथा समालक्ष्यत चारुदर्शनः प्रकाशयन्सूर्य इवाचिरोदितः ॥

athāparo'dṛśyata vai śaśī yathā huto havirbhirhi yathā'dhvare śikhī | tathā samālakṣyata cārudarśanaḥ prakāśayansūrya ivāciroditaḥ

Then another appeared, like the moon, or like a sacrificial fire blazing with oblations at a rite. Handsome to behold, he was seen shining like the newly risen sun.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 1–4 (after 4.9.4b).

Verse 2 (4.13.2)

तमाव्रजन्तं सहदेवमग्रणीर्नृपो विराटो नचिरात्समैक्षत । प्रैक्षन्त तं तत्र पृथक्समागताः सभागताः सर्वमनोहरप्रभम् । युवानमायान्तममित्रकर्शनं प्रमुक्तमभ्रादिव चन्द्रमण्डलम् ॥

tamāvrajantaṃ sahadevamagraṇīrnṛpo virāṭo nacirātsamaikṣata | praikṣanta taṃ tatra pṛthaksamāgatāḥ sabhāgatāḥ sarvamanoharaprabham | yuvānamāyāntamamitrakarśanaṃ pramuktamabhrādiva candramaṇḍalam

Before long King Virata, foremost of men, saw Sahadeva approaching. All who had gathered in the assembly, each where he stood, gazed at him: a young man whose radiance charmed every heart, a scourge of his foes, coming toward them like the disc of the moon set free from a cloud.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 5–10 (after 4.9.4b).

Verse 3 (4.13.3)

यष्ट्या प्रमाणान्वितया सुदर्शनं दामानि पाशं च निबद्ध्य पृष्ठतः । मौर्वीं च तन्त्रीं महतीं सुसंहितां बालैश्च तारैर्बहुभिः समावृताम् ॥

yaṣṭyā pramāṇānvitayā sudarśanaṃ dāmāni pāśaṃ ca nibaddhya pṛṣṭhataḥ | maurvīṃ ca tantrīṃ mahatīṃ susaṃhitāṃ bālaiśca tārairbahubhiḥ samāvṛtām

Handsome to see, he carried a staff of proper length, with ropes and a halter tied behind him, and a long, well-twisted tether of murva fibre wound about with many strands of hair.

Note on the text: Corrected मौर्वी → मौर्वीं (misprint in Wikisource; the word is one of the objects of निबद्ध्य and needs the accusative, like तन्त्रीं महतीं). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 11–14 (after 4.9.4b). The appendix reads mauñjīṃ (of muñja grass) for मौर्वीं and dāmaiḥ for तारैः.

Verse 4 (4.13.4)

स चापि राजानमुवाच वीर्यवान्कुरुष्व मां पार्थिव गोष्ववस्थितम् । मया हि गुप्ताः पशवो भवन्तु ते प्रसन्ननिद्राः प्रभवोस्मि वल्लवः ॥

sa cāpi rājānamuvāca vīryavānkuruṣva māṃ pārthiva goṣvavasthitam | mayā hi guptāḥ paśavo bhavantu te prasannanidrāḥ prabhavosmi vallavaḥ

The mighty one said to the king: "O king, set me over your cattle. Guarded by me, your herds will sleep in peace; I am a capable cowherd."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 15–18 (after 4.9.4b). The appendix reads pranaṣṭanidrāḥ for प्रसन्ननिद्राः.

Verse 5 (4.13.5)

न श्वापदेभ्यो न च रोगतो भयं न चापि दावान्न च तस्कराद्भयम् । पयःप्रभूता बहुला निरामया भवन्ति गावः सुभृता नराधिप ॥

na śvāpadebhyo na ca rogato bhayaṃ na cāpi dāvānna ca taskarādbhayam | payaḥprabhūtā bahulā nirāmayā bhavanti gāvaḥ subhṛtā narādhipa

"They will have nothing to fear from beasts of prey or from disease, nor from forest fire or from thieves. Well tended, O lord of men, your cows will be many, healthy and rich in milk."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 19–22 (after 4.9.4b). Speaker set to Sahadeva: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 6 (4.13.6)

निशम्य राजा सहदेवभाषितं निरीक्ष्य माद्रीसुतमभ्यनन्दत् । उवाच हृष्टो मुदितेन चेतसा न बल्लवत्वं त्वयि वीर लक्षये ॥

niśamya rājā sahadevabhāṣitaṃ nirīkṣya mādrīsutamabhyanandat | uvāca hṛṣṭo muditena cetasā na ballavatvaṃ tvayi vīra lakṣaye

Hearing Sahadeva's words and looking closely at the son of Madri, the king welcomed him. Delighted, with a glad heart, he said: "Hero, I see nothing of the cowherd in you."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 23–26 (after 4.9.4b).

Verse 7 (4.13.7)

धैर्याद्वपुः क्षात्रमिवेह ते दृढं प्रकाशते कौरववंशजस्य वा । नापण्डितेयं तव दृश्यते तनुर्भवेह राज्ये मम मन्त्रधर्मभृत् ॥

dhairyādvapuḥ kṣātramiveha te dṛḍhaṃ prakāśate kauravavaṃśajasya vā | nāpaṇḍiteyaṃ tava dṛśyate tanurbhaveha rājye mama mantradharmabhṛt

"Your strong frame has the firmness of a warrior's, or of one born in the line of the Kauravas. This body of yours is not that of an unlearned man. Stay here in my kingdom as the keeper of my counsel and of the law."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 27–30 (after 4.9.4b). Speaker set to Virata: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 8 (4.13.8)

प्रशाधि मत्स्यान्सहराजकानिमान्बृहस्पतिः शक्रयुतानिवामरान् । बलं च मे रक्ष सुवेष सर्वशो गृहाण खड्गं प्रतिरूपमात्मनः ॥

praśādhi matsyānsaharājakānimānbṛhaspatiḥ śakrayutānivāmarān | balaṃ ca me rakṣa suveṣa sarvaśo gṛhāṇa khaḍgaṃ pratirūpamātmanaḥ

"Govern these Matsyas together with their princes, as Brihaspati guides the immortals with Shakra at their head. Guard my army in every way, you of fine appearance, and take a sword worthy of yourself."

Note on the text: Corrected शत्रुयुतान् → शक्रयुतान् (misprint in Wikisource; "the immortals joined with Shakra" — "with enemies" makes no sense; the appendix reads śakrayutān), खङ्गं → खड्गं (misprint; appendix khaḍgaṃ) and प्रतिरूपमात्मः → प्रतिरूपमात्मनः (dropped akshara; appendix ātmanaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 31–34 (after 4.9.4b). Speaker set to Virata: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 9 (4.13.9)

अनीककर्णाग्रधरो बलस्य मे प्रभुर्भवानस्तु गृहाण कार्मुकम् ॥

anīkakarṇāgradharo balasya me prabhurbhavānastu gṛhāṇa kārmukam

"Hold the front and the wings of my forces and be the lord of my army. Take up the bow."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 35–36 (after 4.9.4b). Wikisource, like the appendix, has only these two quarters here. Speaker set to Virata: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 10 (4.13.10)

विराटराज्ञाऽभिहितः कुरूत्तमः प्रशस्य राजानमभिप्रणम्य च । उवाच मत्स्यप्रवरं महापतिः शृणुष्व राजन्मम वाक्यमुत्तमम् ॥

virāṭarājñā'bhihitaḥ kurūttamaḥ praśasya rājānamabhipraṇamya ca | uvāca matsyapravaraṃ mahāpatiḥ śṛṇuṣva rājanmama vākyamuttamam

Addressed thus by King Virata, the best of the Kurus praised the king and bowed low before him, and the great prince said to the foremost of the Matsyas: "Hear my words, O king, for they are sound."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 37–40 (after 4.9.4b). The appendix reads mahāmatiḥ for महापतिः.

Verse 11 (4.13.11)

बालो ह्यहं जातिविशेषदूषितः कुतोऽद्य मे नीतिषु युक्तमन्त्रता । स्वकर्मतुष्टाश्च वयं नराधिप प्रशाधि मां गोपरिरक्षणेऽनघ ॥

bālo hyahaṃ jātiviśeṣadūṣitaḥ kuto'dya me nītiṣu yuktamantratā | svakarmatuṣṭāśca vayaṃ narādhipa praśādhi māṃ goparirakṣaṇe'nagha

"I am young, and marked by the low rank of my birth; how could I be fit to give counsel on matters of policy? We are content with our own work, O lord of men. Set me, blameless one, to guarding the cattle."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.8, lines 41–44 (after 4.9.4b). Speaker set to Sahadeva: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 12 (4.13.12)

वैश्योस्मि नाम्नाऽहमरिष्टनेमिर्गोसङ्ख्य आसं कुरुपुङ्गवानाम् । वस्तुं त्वयीच्छामि विशांवरिष्ठ तान्राजसिंहान्न हि वेद्मि पार्थान् ॥

vaiśyosmi nāmnā'hamariṣṭanemirgosaṅkhya āsaṃ kurupuṅgavānām | vastuṃ tvayīcchāmi viśāṃvariṣṭha tānrājasiṃhānna hi vedmi pārthān

"I am a Vaishya named Arishtanemi. I was the counter of cattle for the bulls of the Kuru line. O best of men, I wish to live under you, for I do not know where those lions among kings, the sons of Pritha, are."

Note on the text: Covers CE 4.9.4cd and 4.9.5ab. Speaker set to Sahadeva: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 13 (4.13.13)

न जीवितुं शक्यमतोऽन्यकर्मणा न च त्वदन्यो मम रोचते विभो ॥

na jīvituṃ śakyamato'nyakarmaṇā na ca tvadanyo mama rocate vibho

"I cannot live by any other work, and no one but you pleases me, my lord."

Note on the text: Wikisource prints this single line as a verse of its own; it is CE 4.9.5cd. Speaker set to Sahadeva: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 14 (4.13.14)

त्वं ब्राह्मणो वा यदि वाऽपि भूमिपः समुद्रनेमीश्वररूपवानसि । आचक्ष्व तत्त्वं त्वममित्रकर्शन न बल्लवत्वं त्वयि विद्यते समम् ॥

tvaṃ brāhmaṇo vā yadi vā'pi bhūmipaḥ samudranemīśvararūpavānasi | ācakṣva tattvaṃ tvamamitrakarśana na ballavatvaṃ tvayi vidyate samam

"You are a Brahmin, or else a king; you have the look of a lord of the sea-girt earth. Tell me the truth, scourge of your foes: the cowherd's calling does not suit you."

Note on the text: Corrected तत्वं → तत्त्वं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; the CE reads tattvam).

Verse 15 (4.13.15)

कस्यासि राज्ञो विषयादिहागतः किं चापि शिल्पं तव विद्यते कृतम् । कथं त्वमस्मासु निवत्स्यसे सदा वदस्व किं चापि तवेह वेतनम् ॥

kasyāsi rājño viṣayādihāgataḥ kiṃ cāpi śilpaṃ tava vidyate kṛtam | kathaṃ tvamasmāsu nivatsyase sadā vadasva kiṃ cāpi taveha vetanam

"From the realm of which king have you come here? What craft have you mastered? How will you live among us from now on? And tell me, what wages do you want here?"

Note on the text: Corrected कस्यामि → कस्यासि (misprint in Wikisource; the sense needs "you are"; the CE reads kasyāsi).

Verse 16 (4.13.16)

पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणां ज्येष्ठो राजा युधिष्ठिरः । तस्याष्टौ शतसाहस्रं गवां वर्गाः शतंशतम् ॥

pañcānāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ jyeṣṭho rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | tasyāṣṭau śatasāhasraṃ gavāṃ vargāḥ śataṃśatam

"Yudhishthira is the king, eldest of the five sons of Pandu. He owned eight hundred thousand herds of cattle, a hundred head in each."

Verse 17 (4.13.17)

अपरे दशसाहस्रा द्विस्तावन्तस्तथा परे । तेषां गोसङ्ख्य आसं वै तन्त्रीपालेति मां विदुः ॥

apare daśasāhasrā dvistāvantastathā pare | teṣāṃ gosaṅkhya āsaṃ vai tantrīpāleti māṃ viduḥ

"Other herds numbered ten thousand, and others twice as many. I was the counter of all those cattle, and people knew me as Tantripala."

Verse 18 (4.13.18)

भूतं भव्यं भविष्यच्च यच्चान्यद्गोगतं क्वचित् । न मेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्समन्ताद्दशयोजनम् ॥

bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyacca yaccānyadgogataṃ kvacit | na me'styaviditaṃ kiṃcitsamantāddaśayojanam

"Of whatever concerns cattle — past, present or to come — within ten yojanas on every side, there is nothing I do not know."

Verse 19 (4.13.19)

गुणाः सुविदिता ह्यासन्मया तस्य महात्मनः । आसीच्च स मया तुष्टः कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

guṇāḥ suviditā hyāsanmayā tasya mahātmanaḥ | āsīcca sa mayā tuṣṭaḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

"That great-souled king knew my merits well, and Yudhishthira, king of the Kurus, was pleased with me."

Verse 20 (4.13.20)

अनेन गणिता गावो दुर्विज्ञेया महत्तराः । बहुक्षीरतरास्ता वै बह्व्यः सत्यः सपुत्रिकाः ॥

anena gaṇitā gāvo durvijñeyā mahattarāḥ | bahukṣīratarāstā vai bahvyaḥ satyaḥ saputrikāḥ

"Counted under my care, the herds grew past easy reckoning and ever larger; they gave more milk, and were many, each with her calves."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.9.11d*0228, which reads anekaguṇitā for अनेन गणिता and saputrakāḥ for सपुत्रिकाः.

Verse 21 (4.13.21)

क्षिप्रं च गावो बहुला भवन्ति न तासु रोगो भवतीह कश्चित् । तैस्तैरुपायैर्विदितं मयैतदेतानि शिल्पानि मयि स्थितानि ॥

kṣipraṃ ca gāvo bahulā bhavanti na tāsu rogo bhavatīha kaścit | taistairupāyairviditaṃ mayaitadetāni śilpāni mayi sthitāni

"Under me the cows soon multiply, and no disease touches them. I have learned this by many means; these skills are mine."

Note on the text: Corrected उपयैः → उपायैः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, which also breaks the metre; the CE reads upāyaiḥ).

Verse 22 (4.13.22)

ऋषभानपि जानामि राजन्पूजितलक्षणान् । येषां मूत्रमुपाघ्राय वन्ध्या अपि प्रसूयते ॥

ṛṣabhānapi jānāmi rājanpūjitalakṣaṇān | yeṣāṃ mūtramupāghrāya vandhyā api prasūyate

"I also know bulls with auspicious marks, O king — bulls whose urine, once smelled, makes even barren cows conceive."

Verse 23 (4.13.23)

मत्स्याधिपो हर्षकलेन चेतसा माद्रीसुतं पाण्डवमभ्यभाषत । नैवानुमन्ये तव कर्म कुत्सितं महीं समग्रामभिपातुमर्हसि ॥

matsyādhipo harṣakalena cetasā mādrīsutaṃ pāṇḍavamabhyabhāṣata | naivānumanye tava karma kutsitaṃ mahīṃ samagrāmabhipātumarhasi

The lord of the Matsyas, his heart thrilling with joy, said to the Pandava son of Madri: "I do not think your work contemptible; you are fit to protect the whole earth."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.9.13d*0229, lines 1–4.

Verse 24 (4.13.24)

अथ त्विदानीं तव रोचते विभो यथेष्टतो गव्यमवेक्ष मामकम् । त्वदर्पणा मे पशवो भवन्तु वै पशून्सपालान्भवते ददाम्यहम् ॥

atha tvidānīṃ tava rocate vibho yatheṣṭato gavyamavekṣa māmakam | tvadarpaṇā me paśavo bhavantu vai paśūnsapālānbhavate dadāmyaham

"But since this is now your wish, my lord, look after my cattle as you see fit. Let my herds be in your charge; I give you the cattle together with their herdsmen."

Note on the text: Mostly outside the critical edition (vulgate recension): lines 1–3 are the CE apparatus 4.9.13d*0229, lines 5–7, and the last quarter matches CE 4.9.14c. Speaker set to Virata: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 25 (4.13.25)

शतं सहस्राणि गवां हि सन्ति वर्णस्यवर्णस्य पृथग्गणानाम् । ददामि तेऽहं वरमीप्सितं च यत्त्वदर्पणा मे पशवो भवन्त्विति ॥

śataṃ sahasrāṇi gavāṃ hi santi varṇasyavarṇasya pṛthaggaṇānām | dadāmi te'haṃ varamīpsitaṃ ca yattvadarpaṇā me paśavo bhavantviti

"I have a hundred thousand cows, in separate herds of every colour. I grant you the boon you desire: let my cattle be in your charge."

Note on the text: A variant of CE 4.9.14: the opening words agree, the rest differs. Speaker set to Virata: the verse is wholly his direct speech, and Wikisource prints no speaker heading for it.

Verse 26 (4.13.26)

एवं विराटेन समेत्य पाण्डवो लब्ध्वा च गोबल्लवतां यथेष्टतः । अज्ञातचर्यामवसन्महात्मा यथा रविश्चास्तगिरिं प्रविष्टः ॥

evaṃ virāṭena sametya pāṇḍavo labdhvā ca goballavatāṃ yatheṣṭataḥ | ajñātacaryāmavasanmahātmā yathā raviścāstagiriṃ praviṣṭaḥ

So the great-souled Pandava met Virata and gained the post of cowherd as he wished, and lived there in disguise, like the sun gone down behind the western mountain.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in its apparatus, 4.9.15d*0230.

Verse 27 (4.13.27)

एवं विराटे न्यवसंश्च पाण्डवा यथा प्रतिज्ञाभिरमोघविक्रमाः । अबुद्धचर्यां चरितुं यथातथं समुद्रनेमीमभिशास्तुमुद्यताः ॥

evaṃ virāṭe nyavasaṃśca pāṇḍavā yathā pratijñābhiramoghavikramāḥ | abuddhacaryāṃ carituṃ yathātathaṃ samudranemīmabhiśāstumudyatāḥ

Thus the Pandavas, of unfailing valour, lived at Virata's court as they had vowed, set on keeping their hidden life exactly as required — they who were fit to rule the sea-girt earth.

Note on the text: Corresponds loosely to CE 4.11.13, which closes the CE's account of the Pandavas' entry: the first line nearly agrees, the second reads differently.