Yudhishthira Will Serve Virata as Kanka

Verse 1 (4.2.1)

निवृत्तवनवासास्ते सत्यसन्धा मनस्विनः । अकुर्वत पुनर्मन्त्रं सह धौम्येन पाण्डवाः ॥

nivṛttavanavāsāste satyasandhā manasvinaḥ | akurvata punarmantraṃ saha dhaumyena pāṇḍavāḥ

Their forest exile over, the Pandavas, true to their word and high-minded, took counsel once more together with Dhaumya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.2*0008, lines 1–2 (reading yaśasvinaḥ for मनस्विनः).

Verse 2 (4.2.2)

अथाब्रवीद्धर्मराजः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । भ्रातॄन्कृष्णां च संप्रेक्ष्य धौम्यं च कुरुनन्दनः ॥

athābravīddharmarājaḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | bhrātṝnkṛṣṇāṃ ca saṃprekṣya dhaumyaṃ ca kurunandanaḥ

Then Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma, the son of Kunti and joy of the Kurus, looking at his brothers, at Krishna and at Dhaumya, said:

Note on the text: Corrected संग्रेक्ष्य → संप्रेक्ष्य (misprint in Wikisource; ग for प; the critical edition's apparatus reads saṃprekṣya). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.2*0008, lines 3–4.

Verse 3 (4.2.3)

द्वादशेमानि वर्षाणि राज्याद्विप्रोषिता वयम् । त्रयोदशोऽयं संप्राप्तः कृच्छ्रात्परमदुर्वसः । स साधु कौन्तेय इतो वासमर्जुन रोचय ॥

dvādaśemāni varṣāṇi rājyādviproṣitā vayam | trayodaśo'yaṃ saṃprāptaḥ kṛcchrātparamadurvasaḥ | sa sādhu kaunteya ito vāsamarjuna rocaya

"These twelve years we have lived banished from the kingdom. Now, after our hardships, the thirteenth has come, and it is very hard to live through. So, Arjuna, son of Kunti, choose well a place for us to live, away from here.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 4.1.5 (Wikisource reads राज्याद् for rāṣṭrād and कृच्छ्रात् for kṛcchraḥ, recension variants); line 3 is CE 4.1.6ab. No speaker heading in Wikisource; Yudhishthira's speech, announced in verse 2, is assigned to him (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 4 (4.2.4)

त्रयोदशमिदं प्राप्तं क्वनु वत्स्यामहेऽर्जुन । अबुद्धा धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च समग्राः सह कृष्णया ॥

trayodaśamidaṃ prāptaṃ kvanu vatsyāmahe'rjuna | abuddhā dhārtarāṣṭraiśca samagrāḥ saha kṛṣṇayā

The thirteenth year has come. Where shall we live, Arjuna, all of us together with Krishna, undiscovered by the sons of Dhritarashtra?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). The first line appears nowhere in the critical edition; the second corresponds to its apparatus 4.1.6b*0011 (abuddhā dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ sahitāḥ saha kṛṣṇayā).

Verse 5 (4.2.5)

तस्यैव वरदानेन धर्मस्य मनुजाधिप । अज्ञाता विचरिष्यामो नराणां भरतर्षभ ॥

tasyaiva varadānena dharmasya manujādhipa | ajñātā vicariṣyāmo narāṇāṃ bharatarṣabha

"By the boon of that same Dharma, lord of men, we shall move about among men unrecognised, O bull of the Bharatas.

Verse 6 (4.2.6)

यानि राष्ट्राणि वासाय कीर्तयिष्यामि कानिचित् । रमणीयानि गुप्तानि तेषां किंचित्तु रोचय ॥

yāni rāṣṭrāṇi vāsāya kīrtayiṣyāmi kānicit | ramaṇīyāni guptāni teṣāṃ kiṃcittu rocaya

I shall name some kingdoms fit to live in, pleasant and secluded; choose one of them.

Verse 7 (4.2.7)

रम्या जनपदाः सन्ति बहवस्त्वभितः कुरून् । पाञ्चालाश्चैव मत्स्याश्च साल्ववैदेहबाह्लिकाः । दशार्णाः शूरसेनाश्च कलिङ्गा मागधा अपि ॥

ramyā janapadāḥ santi bahavastvabhitaḥ kurūn | pāñcālāścaiva matsyāśca sālvavaidehabāhlikāḥ | daśārṇāḥ śūrasenāśca kaliṅgā māgadhā api

There are many pleasant countries around the Kurus: the Panchalas and the Matsyas; the Salvas, the Videhas and the Bahlikas; the Dasharnas and the Shurasenas; the Kalingas and the Magadhas too.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 4.1.9 (listed there among the unmatched verses) with a different list of peoples: the critical edition names the Panchalas, Chedis, Matsyas, Shurasenas, Patachcharas, Dasharnas, Navarashtra, Mallas, Shalvas and Yugandharas; Wikisource's list is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 8 (4.2.8)

विराटनगरं चापि श्रूयते शत्रुसूदन । रमणीयं जनाकीर्णं सुभिक्षं स्फीतमेव च ॥

virāṭanagaraṃ cāpi śrūyate śatrusūdana | ramaṇīyaṃ janākīrṇaṃ subhikṣaṃ sphītameva ca

Virata's city too, slayer of foes, is said to be pleasant, thronged with people, rich in food and prosperous.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.9f*0014, lines 1–2.

Verse 9 (4.2.9)

नानाराष्ट्राणि चान्यानि श्रूयन्ते सुबहूनि च । यत्र ते रोचते राजंस्तत्र गच्छामहे वयम् ॥

nānārāṣṭrāṇi cānyāni śrūyante subahūni ca | yatra te rocate rājaṃstatra gacchāmahe vayam

Many other kingdoms too are spoken of. Wherever you please, O king, there we shall go.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.9f*0014, line 3, and 4.1.10d*0015, line 1.

Verse 10 (4.2.10)

कतमस्मिञ्जनपदे महाराज निवत्स्यसि । मा विषादे मनः कार्यं राज्यभ्रंश इति क्वचित् ॥

katamasmiñjanapade mahārāja nivatsyasi | mā viṣāde manaḥ kāryaṃ rājyabhraṃśa iti kvacit

In which country will you dwell, great king? Never let your mind sink into despair at the thought that the kingdom is lost."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.10d*0015, line 2, and 4.1.10d*0016.

Verse 11 (4.2.11)

एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा स भगवान्प्रभुः । अब्रवीत्सर्वभूतेशस्तथैतन्न तदन्यथा ॥

evametanmahābāho yathā sa bhagavānprabhuḥ | abravītsarvabhūteśastathaitanna tadanyathā

"It is just so, mighty-armed one. As the blessed lord, master of all beings, said, so it will be and not otherwise.

Verse 12 (4.2.12)

अवश्यं त्वेव वासार्थं रमणीयं शिवं सुखम् । संमन्त्र्य सहितैः सर्वैर्द्रष्टव्यमकुतोभयम् ॥

avaśyaṃ tveva vāsārthaṃ ramaṇīyaṃ śivaṃ sukham | saṃmantrya sahitaiḥ sarvairdraṣṭavyamakutobhayam

Yet we must surely consult all together and find a place to live that is pleasant, auspicious, comfortable and safe from every quarter.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रव्यमकुतोऽभयम् → द्रष्टव्यमकुतोभयम् (misprint in Wikisource; the akshara ष्ट was dropped, leaving द्रव्यम् "substance", which makes no sense here, and a stray avagraha broke the compound akutobhaya; the critical edition reads draṣṭavyam akutobhayam).

Verse 13 (4.2.13)

मात्स्यो विराटो बलवानभिरक्तोथ पाण्डवान् । धर्मशीलो वदान्यश्च वृद्धः सत्स्वपि संमतः ॥

mātsyo virāṭo balavānabhiraktotha pāṇḍavān | dharmaśīlo vadānyaśca vṛddhaḥ satsvapi saṃmataḥ

Virata, king of the Matsyas, is strong and well disposed to the Pandavas; he is righteous, generous, old in years and esteemed even among the good.

Verse 14 (4.2.14)

गुणवाँल्लोकविख्यातो दृढभक्तिर्जितेन्द्रियः । तत्र मे रोचते पार्थ मत्स्यराजान्तिकेऽनघ ॥

guṇavām̐llokavikhyāto dṛḍhabhaktirjitendriyaḥ | tatra me rocate pārtha matsyarājāntike'nagha

He is virtuous, renowned in the world, firm in his loyalties and master of his senses. It pleases me, blameless Partha, to live near the Matsya king.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.13d*0019 (reading viśāradaḥ for जितेन्द्रियः).

Verse 15 (4.2.15)

विराटनगरे तात मासान्द्वादशसंमितान् । कुर्वन्तस्तस्य कर्माणि वसामो यदि रोचते ॥

virāṭanagare tāta māsāndvādaśasaṃmitān | kurvantastasya karmāṇi vasāmo yadi rocate

If it pleases you, my dear brother, let us live in Virata's city for a full twelve months, doing work in his service.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 4.1.14 (listed there among the unmatched verses); Wikisource reads मासान्द्वादशसंमितान् and वसामो यदि रोचते, recension variants.

Verse 16 (4.2.16)

यानियानि च कर्माणि तस्य शक्ष्यामहे वयम् । कर्तुं यो यत्स तत्कर्म ब्रवीतु कुरुनन्दन ॥

yāniyāni ca karmāṇi tasya śakṣyāmahe vayam | kartuṃ yo yatsa tatkarma bravītu kurunandana

Let each of you say, joy of the Kurus, which of the tasks in his service he will be able to do."

Verse 17 (4.2.17)

नरदेव कथं कर्म तस्य राष्ट्रे करिष्यसि । मनुजेन्द्र विराटस्य रंस्यसे केन कर्मणा ॥

naradeva kathaṃ karma tasya rāṣṭre kariṣyasi | manujendra virāṭasya raṃsyase kena karmaṇā

"Lord of men, what work will you do in his kingdom? Ruler of men, in what occupation will you take pleasure with Virata?

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 4.1.16 (listed there among the unmatched verses); Wikisource reads मनुजेन्द्र विराटस्य for virāṭanṛpateḥ sādho, a recension variant.

Verse 18 (4.2.18)

अक्लिष्टवेषधारी च धार्मिको ह्यनसूयकः । न तवाभ्युचितं कर्म नृशंसं नापि कैतवम् ॥

akliṣṭaveṣadhārī ca dhārmiko hyanasūyakaḥ | na tavābhyucitaṃ karma nṛśaṃsaṃ nāpi kaitavam

You have never worn the garb of hardship; you are righteous and free of malice. No cruel work befits you, nor any deceit.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.16d*0020, lines 1–2.

Verse 19 (4.2.19)

सत्यवागसि याज्ञीको लोभक्रोधविवर्जितः । मृदुर्वदान्यो ह्रीमांश्च धार्मिकः सत्यविक्रमः ॥

satyavāgasi yājñīko lobhakrodhavivarjitaḥ | mṛdurvadānyo hrīmāṃśca dhārmikaḥ satyavikramaḥ

You are truthful in speech, given to sacrifice, free of greed and anger; gentle, generous, modest, righteous and true in valour.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.1.16d*0020, line 3); the second line is CE 4.1.17ab.

Verse 20 (4.2.20)

स राजंस्तपसा क्लिष्टः कथं तस्य करिष्यसि । न दुःखमुचितं किंचिद्राजन्पापमतेर्यथा । स इमामापदं प्राप्य कथं घोरां तरिष्यसि ॥

sa rājaṃstapasā kliṣṭaḥ kathaṃ tasya kariṣyasi | na duḥkhamucitaṃ kiṃcidrājanpāpamateryathā | sa imāmāpadaṃ prāpya kathaṃ ghorāṃ tariṣyasi

Worn down by austerity, O king, how will you serve him? No sorrow is fitting for you, O king, as it might be for a man of evil mind. Having fallen into this calamity, how will you come through this terrible ordeal?"

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds loosely to CE 4.1.17cd, line 2 to 4.1.18ab (Wikisource reads राजन्पापमतेर्यथा for rājan veda yathā janaḥ) and line 3 is CE 4.1.18cd; recension variants.

Verse 21 (4.2.21)

अर्जुनेनैवमुक्तस्तु प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः । शृणु त्वं यत्करिष्यामि कर्म वै कुरुनन्दन ॥

arjunenaivamuktastu pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | śṛṇu tvaṃ yatkariṣyāmi karma vai kurunandana

Addressed thus by Arjuna, Yudhishthira replied: "Listen, joy of the Kurus, to the work I shall do.

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.1.18d*0021); the second line corresponds to CE 4.1.19ab (singular शृणु त्वं … कुरुनन्दन for the plural śṛṇudhvaṃ … kurunandanāḥ). The verse is kept whole under Vaishampayana, who introduces Yudhishthira's reply in it.

Verse 22 (4.2.22)

विराटं समनुप्राप्य राजानं मात्स्यनन्दनम् । सभास्तारो भविष्यामि विराटस्येति मे मतिः ॥

virāṭaṃ samanuprāpya rājānaṃ mātsyanandanam | sabhāstāro bhaviṣyāmi virāṭasyeti me matiḥ

I shall go to King Virata, the joy of the Matsyas, and become a courtier in Virata's assembly — that is my intention.

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 4.1.19cd and line 2 to 4.1.20ab, with recension variants. No speaker heading in Wikisource; Yudhishthira's speech (verses 22–31) is assigned to him (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 23 (4.2.23)

कङ्को नाम ब्रुवाणोऽहं मताक्षः साधुदेविता । वैडूर्यान्काञ्चनान्दान्तान्स्फाटिकान्राजतानपि ॥

kaṅko nāma bruvāṇo'haṃ matākṣaḥ sādhudevitā | vaiḍūryānkāñcanāndāntānsphāṭikānrājatānapi

Calling myself Kanka, a skilled and good player at dice, I shall throw dice of beryl, of gold, of ivory, of crystal and of silver,

Note on the text: Corrected दानान् → दान्तान् (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped त् turns "of ivory" into "gifts" in a list of the materials of the dice; the critical edition reads dāntān). Line 1 corresponds to CE 4.1.20cd (kaṅko nāma dvijo bhūtvā … priyadevitā) and line 2 to 4.1.21ab, with recension variants.

Verse 24 (4.2.24)

कृष्णाक्षाँल्लोहिताक्षांश्च निवप्स्यामि मनोरमान् । अरिष्टान्राजगोलिङ्गान्दर्शनीयान्सुवर्चसः ॥

kṛṣṇākṣām̐llohitākṣāṃśca nivapsyāmi manoramān | ariṣṭānrājagoliṅgāndarśanīyānsuvarcasaḥ

and charming dice marked black and red; and handsome, gleaming ones of the kinds called arishta and rajagolinga.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 4.1.21cd (reading nirvartsyāmi for निवप्स्यामि); line 2 is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.1.21d*0022, line 1).

Verse 25 (4.2.25)

लोहिताश्चाश्मगर्भाश्च सन्ति तात धनानि मे । दर्शनीयाः सभानन्दाः कुशलैः साधुनिष्ठिताः ॥

lohitāścāśmagarbhāśca santi tāta dhanāni me | darśanīyāḥ sabhānandāḥ kuśalaiḥ sādhuniṣṭhitāḥ

I have treasures too, my dear brother — red pieces and pieces with stone at the core, handsome, the delight of the assembly, finely made by skilled craftsmen.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.21d*0022, lines 2–3.

Verse 26 (4.2.26)

अप्येतान्पाणिना स्पृष्ट्वा संप्रहृष्यन्ति मानवाः ॥

apyetānpāṇinā spṛṣṭvā saṃprahṛṣyanti mānavāḥ

Men are delighted merely to touch them with their hands.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.21d*0022, line 4. Wikisource prints it as a single line: its verse 24 joined the first line of *0022 to CE 4.1.21cd, which leaves this line on its own; nothing is lost.

Verse 27 (4.2.27)

तान्विकीर्य समे देशे रमणीये विपांसुले । देविष्यामि यथाकामं स विहारो भविष्यति ॥

tānvikīrya same deśe ramaṇīye vipāṃsule | deviṣyāmi yathākāmaṃ sa vihāro bhaviṣyati

Scattering them on level, pleasant, dust-free ground, I shall play as I please; that will be my pastime.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.21d*0022, lines 5–6.

Verse 28 (4.2.28)

कङ्को नाम्ना परिव्राट् च विराटस्य सभासदः । ज्योतिषे शकुनज्ञाने निमित्ते चाक्षकौशले । ब्राह्मे वेदे मयाऽधीते वेदाङ्गेषु च सर्वशः ॥

kaṅko nāmnā parivrāṭ ca virāṭasya sabhāsadaḥ | jyotiṣe śakunajñāne nimitte cākṣakauśale | brāhme vede mayā'dhīte vedāṅgeṣu ca sarvaśaḥ

As Kanka by name, a wandering mendicant and a member of Virata's court — versed in astrology, in the lore of birds, in portents and in the skill of dice, having studied the Veda and all the Vedangas,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.21d*0023, lines 1–3.

Verse 29 (4.2.29)

धर्मकामार्थमोक्षेषु नीतिशास्त्रेषु पारगः । पृष्टोऽहं कथयिष्यामि राज्ञः प्रियतमं वचः ॥

dharmakāmārthamokṣeṣu nītiśāstreṣu pāragaḥ | pṛṣṭo'haṃ kathayiṣyāmi rājñaḥ priyatamaṃ vacaḥ

accomplished in dharma, pleasure, wealth and liberation and in the treatises on statecraft — I shall speak to the king, when he asks me, the words most dear to him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.1.21d*0023, lines 4–5 (reading priyahitaṃ for प्रियतमं).

Verse 30 (4.2.30)

आसं युधिष्ठिरस्याहं पुरा प्राणसमः सखा । इति वक्ष्यामि राजानं यदि मामनुयोक्ष्यते ॥

āsaṃ yudhiṣṭhirasyāhaṃ purā prāṇasamaḥ sakhā | iti vakṣyāmi rājānaṃ yadi māmanuyokṣyate

If the king questions me, I shall tell him: "In the past I was Yudhishthira's friend, as dear to him as his own life."

Verse 31 (4.2.31)

विराटनगरे छन्न एवं युक्तः सदा वसे । इत्येवं मे प्रतिज्ञातं विचरिष्याम्यहं यथा ॥

virāṭanagare channa evaṃ yuktaḥ sadā vase | ityevaṃ me pratijñātaṃ vicariṣyāmyahaṃ yathā

Thus engaged, I shall live always in hiding in Virata's city. This is what I have resolved, and this is how I shall go about."

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 4.1.21d*0024); the second corresponds loosely to CE 4.1.23ab (ity etad vo mayākhyātaṃ vihariṣyāmy ahaṃ yathā).