Yudhishthira Enters Virata's Court as Kanka

Verse 1 (4.9.1)

ततस्तु ते पुण्यजलां शिवां शुभां महर्षिगन्धर्वनिषेवितोदकाम् । त्रिलोककान्तामवतीर्य जाह्नवीमृषींश्च देवांश्च पितॄनतर्पयन् ॥

tatastu te puṇyajalāṃ śivāṃ śubhāṃ maharṣigandharvaniṣevitodakām | trilokakāntāmavatīrya jāhnavīmṛṣīṃśca devāṃśca pitṝnatarpayan

Then they went down into the Jahnavi, the Ganga — holy-watered, gracious and auspicious, her waters frequented by great sages and Gandharvas, beloved of the three worlds — and offered libations to the sages, the gods and the ancestors.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 1–4. Corrected पितृनतपर्यन् → पितॄनतर्पयन् (misprint in Wikisource; transposed aksharas and short ṛ; the appendix reads pitṝn atarpayan).

Verse 2 (4.9.2)

वरप्रदानं ह्यनुचिन्त्य पार्थिवो हुत्वाऽग्निहोत्रं कृतजप्यमङ्गलः । दिशं तथैन्द्रीमभितः प्रपेदिवान्कृताञ्जलिर्धर्ममुपाह्वयच्छनैः ॥

varapradānaṃ hyanucintya pārthivo hutvā'gnihotraṃ kṛtajapyamaṅgalaḥ | diśaṃ tathaindrīmabhitaḥ prapedivānkṛtāñjalirdharmamupāhvayacchanaiḥ

Remembering the boon that had been granted, the king offered the agnihotra, completed his prayers and auspicious rites, turned toward the eastern quarter, Indra's direction, and with joined palms quietly called upon Dharma.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 5–8. Corrected पार्थिवे → पार्थिवो (misprint in Wikisource; the subject of the verse needs the nominative, as in the appendix (pārthivo)).

Verse 3 (4.9.3)

वरप्रदानं मम दत्तवान्पिता प्रसन्नचेता वरदः प्रजापतिः । जलार्थिनो मे तृषितस्य सोदरा मया प्रयुक्ता विविशुर्जलाशयम् ॥

varapradānaṃ mama dattavānpitā prasannacetā varadaḥ prajāpatiḥ | jalārthino me tṛṣitasya sodarā mayā prayuktā viviśurjalāśayam

"My father, the giver of boons, the lord of creatures, was pleased in heart and granted me a boon. When I was thirsty and wanted water, my brothers went into the lake at my bidding,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 9–12.

Verse 4 (4.9.4)

निपातिता यक्षवरेण ते वने महाहवे वज्रभृतेव दानवाः । मया च गत्वा वरदो हि तोषितो विवक्षता प्रश्नसमुच्चयं गुरुः ॥

nipātitā yakṣavareṇa te vane mahāhave vajrabhṛteva dānavāḥ | mayā ca gatvā varado hi toṣito vivakṣatā praśnasamuccayaṃ guruḥ

and there in the forest the chief of the Yakshas struck them down, as the wielder of the thunderbolt strikes down the Danavas in a great battle. I went there and satisfied that boon-giving teacher, who wished to put a whole series of questions to me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 13–16.

Verse 5 (4.9.5)

स मे प्रसन्नो भगवान्वरं ददौ परिष्वजंश्चाह तथैव सौहृदात् । वृणीष्व यद्वाञ्छसि पाण्डुनन्दन स्थितोऽन्तरिक्षे वरदोऽस्मि पश्य माम् ॥

sa me prasanno bhagavānvaraṃ dadau pariṣvajaṃścāha tathaiva sauhṛdāt | vṛṇīṣva yadvāñchasi pāṇḍunandana sthito'ntarikṣe varado'smi paśya mām

The blessed lord was pleased with me and gave me a boon. Embracing me out of affection, he said: "Choose whatever you desire, son of Pandu. I who stand in the sky am the giver of boons — behold me."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 17–20.

Verse 6 (4.9.6)

स वै मयोक्तो वरदः पिता प्रभुः सदैव मे धर्मरता मतिर्भवेत् । इमे च जीवन्तु ममानुजाः प्रभो वयं स्वरूपं च जयं तथाऽऽप्नुमः ॥

sa vai mayokto varadaḥ pitā prabhuḥ sadaiva me dharmaratā matirbhavet | ime ca jīvantu mamānujāḥ prabho vayaṃ svarūpaṃ ca jayaṃ tathā''pnumaḥ

I said to that boon-giving father and lord: "May my mind ever delight in dharma. May these younger brothers of mine live, my lord, and may we gain our own form and victory as well.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 21–24. Its last line there (vayaś ca rūpaṃ ca balaṃ tathāpnuyuḥ) is the reading Wikisource's own footnote cites from other editions.

Verse 7 (4.9.7)

क्षमा च कीर्तिश्च यथेप्सितं भवेद्व्रतं तु सत्यं च समाप्तिरेव च । वरो ममैषोस्तु यथाऽनुकीर्तितो न तन्मृषा देववृषो यथाऽब्रवीत् ॥

kṣamā ca kīrtiśca yathepsitaṃ bhavedvrataṃ tu satyaṃ ca samāptireva ca | varo mamaiṣostu yathā'nukīrtito na tanmṛṣā devavṛṣo yathā'bravīt

May forbearance and fame be ours as we wish, and may our vow and our truth be carried through to the end." Let this boon of mine be as it was declared; what the bull among the gods said cannot be false."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 25–28.

Verse 8 (4.9.8)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन् । तदैव तत्प्रसादेन रूपमेवाभवत्स्वयम् ॥

ityevamuktvā dharmātmā dharmamevānucintayan | tadaiva tatprasādena rūpamevābhavatsvayam

Having spoken thus, the righteous one went on meditating on Dharma alone, and at that very moment, by Dharma's grace, the new form came to him of itself.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); it is not in the critical edition's Appendix I.5 either, which passes straight from Yudhishthira's prayer to the verse that follows here.

Verse 9 (4.9.9)

स वै द्विजातिस्तरुणस्त्रिदण्डभृत्कमण्डलूष्णीषधरो व्यजायत । सुरक्तमाञ्जिष्ठवराम्बरः शिखी पवित्रपाणिर्ददृशे तदाऽद्भुतम् ॥

sa vai dvijātistaruṇastridaṇḍabhṛtkamaṇḍalūṣṇīṣadharo vyajāyata | suraktamāñjiṣṭhavarāmbaraḥ śikhī pavitrapāṇirdadṛśe tadā'dbhutam

He appeared as a young brahmin bearing the triple staff, carrying a water pot and wearing a turban, dressed in a fine robe dyed deep red with madder, with a topknot and sacred grass in his hand — a wonder to behold.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 29–32.

Verse 10 (4.9.10)

तथैव तेषामपि धर्मचारिणां यथोचितार्हाभरणाम्बरस्रजः । क्षणेन राजन्नभवन्महात्मनां प्रशस्तधर्माग्र्यफलाभिकाङ्क्षिणाम् ॥

tathaiva teṣāmapi dharmacāriṇāṃ yathocitārhābharaṇāmbarasrajaḥ | kṣaṇena rājannabhavanmahātmanāṃ praśastadharmāgryaphalābhikāṅkṣiṇām

In the same way, O king, the other great-souled brothers, who walked in dharma and longed for the highest fruit of praiseworthy dharma, in an instant had ornaments, garments and garlands, each as was fitting and proper for him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition gives it only in Appendix I.5, lines 33–36.

Verse 11 (4.9.11)

नवेन रूपेण विशांपतिर्युतस्त्वथर्वरूपेण बभौ प्रतापवान् । निबद्धवैडूर्यसितान्सकाञ्चनान्नृपस्तथाऽक्षान्परिवेष्ट्य वाससः ॥

navena rūpeṇa viśāṃpatiryutastvatharvarūpeṇa babhau pratāpavān | nibaddhavaiḍūryasitānsakāñcanānnṛpastathā'kṣānpariveṣṭya vāsasaḥ

Endowed with his new form, the majestic lord of the people shone in the guise of an Atharvan priest. The king also wrapped in his garment the dice, set with beryl, white and worked with gold.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). Its first half-line is in the critical edition's Appendix I.5, lines 37–38; its second half-line resembles the critical edition's 4.6.1cd (vaiḍūryarūpān pratimucya kāñcanān akṣān …).

Verse 12 (4.9.12)

ततो विराटं प्रथमं युधिष्ठिरो ददर्श दूरात्सुसमृद्धतेजसम् । अनन्ततेजोज्वलितं हुताशनं दुरासदं तीक्ष्णविषं यथोरगम् ॥

tato virāṭaṃ prathamaṃ yudhiṣṭhiro dadarśa dūrātsusamṛddhatejasam | anantatejojvalitaṃ hutāśanaṃ durāsadaṃ tīkṣṇaviṣaṃ yathoragam

Then Yudhishthira first caught sight of Virata from afar — rich in splendour, blazing like a fire of boundless brilliance, as hard to approach as a snake of sharp venom.

Note on the text: Only the first quarter matches the critical edition's 4.6.1 (tato virāṭaṃ prathamaṃ yudhiṣṭhiro); the second half-line is in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 1–2; the rest of the first half-line is found only in the vulgate recension.

Verse 13 (4.9.13)

सभासदं प्राञ्जलिभिर्जनैर्वृतं विचित्रनानाविधशस्त्रपाणिभिः । उपायनौघैः प्रविशद्भिराचितं द्विजैश्च शिक्षाक्षरमन्त्रधारिभिः ॥

sabhāsadaṃ prāñjalibhirjanairvṛtaṃ vicitranānāvidhaśastrapāṇibhiḥ | upāyanaughaiḥ praviśadbhirācitaṃ dvijaiśca śikṣākṣaramantradhāribhiḥ

He sat in his assembly, surrounded by men with joined palms who bore many kinds of fine weapons, thronged by streams of people coming in with gifts, and by brahmins versed in phonetics, letters and mantras.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 3–6.

Verse 14 (4.9.14)

गजैरुदीर्णं तुरगैश्च सङ्कुलं मृगद्विपैः कुब्जगणैः समावृतम् । सितोच्छ्रितोष्णीषनिरुद्धमूर्धजं विचित्रवैडूर्यविकारकुण्डलम् । विराटमायाच्च युधिष्ठिरस्तदा बृहस्पतिः शक्रमिव त्रिविष्टपे ॥

gajairudīrṇaṃ turagaiśca saṅkulaṃ mṛgadvipaiḥ kubjagaṇaiḥ samāvṛtam | sitocchritoṣṇīṣaniruddhamūrdhajaṃ vicitravaiḍūryavikārakuṇḍalam | virāṭamāyācca yudhiṣṭhirastadā bṛhaspatiḥ śakramiva triviṣṭape

Thronged with spirited elephants and crowded with horses, surrounded by beasts and tuskers and by companies of hunchbacks — that Virata, his hair bound up in a tall white turban, wearing curious earrings wrought of beryl, Yudhishthira now approached, as Brihaspati approaches Shakra in heaven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 7–12. Corrected गजैरुदीर्मं → गजैरुदीर्णं (misprint in Wikisource; उदीर्मं is not a word; the apparatus reads gajair udīrṇaṃ).

Verse 15 (4.9.15)

तमाव्रजन्तं प्रसमीक्ष्य पाण्डवं विराटराजो मुदितेन चक्षुषा । पप्रच्छ चैनं स नराधिपो मुहुर्द्विजाश्च ये चास्य सभासदस्तदा ॥

tamāvrajantaṃ prasamīkṣya pāṇḍavaṃ virāṭarājo muditena cakṣuṣā | papraccha cainaṃ sa narādhipo muhurdvijāśca ye cāsya sabhāsadastadā

Seeing the Pandava approach, King Virata, his eyes full of gladness, asked about him again and again — of the brahmins and of those who were then his courtiers.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 13–16.

Verse 16 (4.9.16)

को वा विजानाति पुराऽस्य दर्शनं युवा सभां योऽयमुपैति मामिकाम् । रूपेण सारेण विराजयन्महीं श्रिया ह्ययं वैश्रवणो द्विजो यथा ॥

ko vā vijānāti purā'sya darśanaṃ yuvā sabhāṃ yo'yamupaiti māmikām | rūpeṇa sāreṇa virājayanmahīṃ śriyā hyayaṃ vaiśravaṇo dvijo yathā

"Who has ever seen this man before — this youth who comes to my assembly, making the earth shine with his beauty and strength? In splendour this brahmin is like Vaishravana.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 17–20.

Verse 17 (4.9.17)

मृगेन्द्रराड्वारणयूथपोपमः प्रभात्ययं काञ्चनपर्वतो यथा । विराजते पावकसूर्यसन्निभं सचन्द्रनक्षत्र इवांशुमान्ग्रहः ॥

mṛgendrarāḍvāraṇayūthapopamaḥ prabhātyayaṃ kāñcanaparvato yathā | virājate pāvakasūryasannibhaṃ sacandranakṣatra ivāṃśumāngrahaḥ

Like the king of beasts, like the leader of an elephant herd, he shines like a golden mountain; he glows like fire and the sun, like a radiant planet among the moon and the stars.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 21–24.

Verse 18 (4.9.18)

न दृश्यतेऽस्यानुचरो न कुञ्जरो न चोष्णरश्म्यावरणं समुच्छ्रितम् । न कुण्डलं नाङ्गदमस्य न स्रजो विचित्रिताङ्गश्च रथश्चतुर्युजः ॥

na dṛśyate'syānucaro na kuñjaro na coṣṇaraśmyāvaraṇaṃ samucchritam | na kuṇḍalaṃ nāṅgadamasya na srajo vicitritāṅgaśca rathaścaturyujaḥ

No attendant of his is to be seen, no elephant, no parasol raised against the sun; he has no earrings, no armlets, no garlands, no chariot of four horses with painted sides.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 25–28. Corrected रथश्रतुर्युजः → रथश्चतुर्युजः (misprint in Wikisource; श्र for श्च; the apparatus reads rathaś caturyujaḥ).

Verse 19 (4.9.19)

क्षात्रं च रूपं हि बिभर्त्ययं भृशं गजेन्द्रशार्दूलमहर्षभोपमः । अभ्यागतोऽस्माननलंकृतोपि सन् विरोचते भानुरिवाचिरोदितः ॥

kṣātraṃ ca rūpaṃ hi bibhartyayaṃ bhṛśaṃ gajendraśārdūlamaharṣabhopamaḥ | abhyāgato'smānanalaṃkṛtopi san virocate bhānurivāciroditaḥ

Yet he bears to the full the look of a kshatriya, like a lordly elephant, a tiger or a great bull. Though he has come to us unadorned, he shines like the sun just risen.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 29–32.

Verse 20 (4.9.20)

विभात्ययं क्षत्रिय एव सर्वथा विराट इत्येवमुवाच तं प्रति । ससागरान्तामयमद्य मेदिनीं प्रशासितुं चार्हति वासवोपमः ॥

vibhātyayaṃ kṣatriya eva sarvathā virāṭa ityevamuvāca taṃ prati | sasāgarāntāmayamadya medinīṃ praśāsituṃ cārhati vāsavopamaḥ

"In every way he looks a kshatriya," Virata said of him; "this man, who is like Vasava, is fit to rule the earth to the ocean's edge this very day.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 33–36.

Verse 21 (4.9.21)

नाक्षत्रियो नूनमयं भविष्यति मूर्धाभिषिक्तः प्रतिभाति मां प्रति । तुल्यं हि रूपं प्रतिदृश्यतेऽस्य गजस्य सिंहस्य तथर्षभस्य ॥

nākṣatriyo nūnamayaṃ bhaviṣyati mūrdhābhiṣiktaḥ pratibhāti māṃ prati | tulyaṃ hi rūpaṃ pratidṛśyate'sya gajasya siṃhasya tatharṣabhasya

Surely he can be no one but a kshatriya; he looks to me like an anointed king. His form appears like that of an elephant, a lion and a bull.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 37–40.

Verse 22 (4.9.22)

यमेष कामं परिमार्गते द्विजः स चास्य सर्वः क्रियतामसंशयम् । प्रियं च मे दर्शनमीदृशे जने द्विजेषु मुख्येषु तथाऽतिथिष्वपि ॥

yameṣa kāmaṃ parimārgate dvijaḥ sa cāsya sarvaḥ kriyatāmasaṃśayam | priyaṃ ca me darśanamīdṛśe jane dvijeṣu mukhyeṣu tathā'tithiṣvapi

Whatever this brahmin is seeking, let all of it be done for him without question. The sight of such a man is dear to me, as are chief brahmins and guests.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 41–44.

Verse 23 (4.9.23)

धनेषु रत्नेष्वथ गोषु वेश्मसु प्रकामतो मे विचरत्ववारितः ॥

dhaneṣu ratneṣvatha goṣu veśmasu prakāmato me vicaratvavāritaḥ

Let him move about freely and unhindered among my wealth, my jewels, my cattle and my houses."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 45–46. A single line in Wikisource, as in the apparatus; nothing has been lost.

Verse 24 (4.9.24)

एवं ब्रुवाणस्तमनन्ततेजसं विराजमानं सहसोत्थितो नृपः । अन्येन रूपेण समीपमागतं त्रिदण्डकुण्ड्यङ्कुशशिक्यपाणिनम् ॥

evaṃ bruvāṇastamanantatejasaṃ virājamānaṃ sahasotthito nṛpaḥ | anyena rūpeṇa samīpamāgataṃ tridaṇḍakuṇḍyaṅkuśaśikyapāṇinam

Speaking thus, the king rose at once to meet that shining man of boundless splendour, who had come near him in another form, holding the triple staff, water pot, hook and carrying-net in his hands.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 47–50.

Verse 25 (4.9.25)

समुत्थिता सा हि सभा सपार्थिवा सविप्रराजन्यविशा सशूद्रका । सभागतं प्रेक्ष्य तपन्तमर्चिषां विनिःसृतं राहुमुखाद्यथा रविम् ॥

samutthitā sā hi sabhā sapārthivā saviprarājanyaviśā saśūdrakā | sabhāgataṃ prekṣya tapantamarciṣāṃ viniḥsṛtaṃ rāhumukhādyathā ravim

The whole assembly rose with the king — brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras — on seeing him arrived in the hall, blazing with radiance like the sun coming out of Rahu's mouth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 51–54. Corrected सभागत → सभागतं (misprint in Wikisource; the object needs the accusative; the apparatus reads sabhāgataṃ).

Verse 26 (4.9.26)

स तेन पूर्वं जयतां भवानिह द्विजातिनोक्तोऽभिमुखः कृताञ्जलिः । जयं जयार्हेण समेत्य वर्धितो विराटराजो ह्यभिवादयच्च तम् ॥

sa tena pūrvaṃ jayatāṃ bhavāniha dvijātinokto'bhimukhaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | jayaṃ jayārheṇa sametya vardhito virāṭarājo hyabhivādayacca tam

The brahmin, standing before him with joined palms, was the first to speak: "May you be victorious here." Greeted with victory by one who himself deserved victory, King Virata saluted him in turn.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 55–58.

Verse 27 (4.9.27)

तमब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिरेष पार्थिवो विराटराजो मधुराक्षरं वचः । प्राप्तः कुतस्त्वं भगवन्किमिच्छसि क्व यास्यसे किं करवाणि ते द्विज ॥

tamabravītprāñjalireṣa pārthivo virāṭarājo madhurākṣaraṃ vacaḥ | prāptaḥ kutastvaṃ bhagavankimicchasi kva yāsyase kiṃ karavāṇi te dvija

King Virata, lord of the earth, with joined palms, spoke sweet words to him: "From where have you come, holy one? What do you desire? Where are you going? What may I do for you, brahmin?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 59–62.

Verse 28 (4.9.28)

श्रुतं च शीलं च कुलं च शंस मे गोत्रं तथा नाम च देशमेव ते । सत्यप्रतिज्ञा हि भवन्ति साधवो विशेषतः प्रव्रजिता द्विजातयः ॥

śrutaṃ ca śīlaṃ ca kulaṃ ca śaṃsa me gotraṃ tathā nāma ca deśameva te | satyapratijñā hi bhavanti sādhavo viśeṣataḥ pravrajitā dvijātayaḥ

Tell me your learning, your conduct and your family, your gotra, your name and your country. The good are true to their word, and brahmins who have renounced the world above all.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 63–66. No speaker heading in Wikisource; the rest of Virata's speech begun in verse 27 (verses 28–30) is assigned to him (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 29 (4.9.29)

यथाऽनुरूपं प्रचरामि ते त्वहं न चावमन्ता न तवाभिभाषितम् । अपूजिता ह्यग्निसमा द्विजातयः कुलं दहेयुः सविषा इवोरगाः ॥

yathā'nurūpaṃ pracarāmi te tvahaṃ na cāvamantā na tavābhibhāṣitam | apūjitā hyagnisamā dvijātayaḥ kulaṃ daheyuḥ saviṣā ivoragāḥ

I will treat you as befits you; I will not slight you or anything you say. Brahmins left unhonoured are like fire: like venomous snakes they can burn up a family.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 67–70.

Verse 30 (4.9.30)

सर्वां च भूमिं तव दातुमुत्सहे सदण्डकोशां विसृजामि ते पुरम् । कस्यासि राज्ञो विषयादिहागतः किं कर्म चात्राचरसि द्विजोत्तम ॥

sarvāṃ ca bhūmiṃ tava dātumutsahe sadaṇḍakośāṃ visṛjāmi te puram | kasyāsi rājño viṣayādihāgataḥ kiṃ karma cātrācarasi dvijottama

I am ready to give you the whole land; I will hand over my city to you with its army and treasury. From the realm of which king have you come here? And what work do you do here, best of brahmins?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 71–74.

Verse 31 (4.9.31)

एवं ब्रुवाणं तमुवाच पार्थिवं युधिष्ठिरो धर्ममवेक्ष्य चासकृत् । सत्यं वचः को न्विह वक्तुमुत्सहेद्यथाप्रतिज्ञं तु शृणुष्व पार्थिव ॥

evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ tamuvāca pārthivaṃ yudhiṣṭhiro dharmamavekṣya cāsakṛt | satyaṃ vacaḥ ko nviha vaktumutsahedyathāpratijñaṃ tu śṛṇuṣva pārthiva

To the king who spoke thus Yudhishthira replied, after weighing dharma again and again: "Who here could venture to speak the whole truth? Yet hear me, O king, in keeping with my vow.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 75–78.

Verse 32 (4.9.32)

श्रुतं च शीलं च कुलं च कर्म च शृणुष्व मे जन्म च देशमेव च । गुरूपदेशान्नियमाच्च मे व्रतं कुलक्रमार्थं पितृभिर्नियोजितम् ॥

śrutaṃ ca śīlaṃ ca kulaṃ ca karma ca śṛṇuṣva me janma ca deśameva ca | gurūpadeśānniyamācca me vrataṃ kulakramārthaṃ pitṛbhirniyojitam

Hear my learning, my conduct, my family and my work, my birth and my country. By my teacher's instruction and by rule I keep a vow, laid on me by my fathers for the sake of the family's custom.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 79–82. No speaker heading in Wikisource; Yudhishthira's reply (verses 32–43), announced in verse 31, is assigned to him (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 33 (4.9.33)

द्विजो व्रतेनास्मि न च स्वतः प्रभो संमुण्डितः प्रव्रजितस्त्रिदण्डभृत् । इदं शरीरं मम पश्य मानुषं समावृतं पञ्चभिरेव धातुभिः ॥

dvijo vratenāsmi na ca svataḥ prabho saṃmuṇḍitaḥ pravrajitastridaṇḍabhṛt | idaṃ śarīraṃ mama paśya mānuṣaṃ samāvṛtaṃ pañcabhireva dhātubhiḥ

I am a brahmin by vow, my lord, not by nature — shaven-headed, a wandering ascetic bearing the triple staff. See this human body of mine, enclosed by the five elements alone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 83–86.

Verse 34 (4.9.34)

ममेह पञ्चेन्द्रियगात्रदर्शिनो वदन्ति पञ्चैव पितॄन्यथा श्रुतिः । मनुष्यजातित्वमचिन्तयन्नहं न चास्मि तुल्यः पितृभिः स्वभावतः ॥

mameha pañcendriyagātradarśino vadanti pañcaiva pitṝnyathā śrutiḥ | manuṣyajātitvamacintayannahaṃ na cāsmi tulyaḥ pitṛbhiḥ svabhāvataḥ

Those who see in me a body with five senses say, as scripture does, that I have five fathers. Not dwelling on my human birth, I am not by nature equal to my fathers.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 87–90.

Verse 35 (4.9.35)

कङ्को हि नाम्ना विषयं तवागतो व्रती द्विजातिः स्वकृतेन कर्मणा । द्यूतप्रसङ्गादधनोऽस्मि राजन्सत्यप्रतिज्ञा व्रतिनश्चरामः ॥

kaṅko hi nāmnā viṣayaṃ tavāgato vratī dvijātiḥ svakṛtena karmaṇā | dyūtaprasaṅgādadhano'smi rājansatyapratijñā vratinaścarāmaḥ

I have come to your kingdom by the name of Kanka, a brahmin bound by a vow through my own deeds. Through my passion for dice I am left without wealth, O king; we who keep vows wander about, true to our promises.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 91–94.

Verse 36 (4.9.36)

युधिष्ठिरस्यापि सखाऽभवं पुरा गृहप्रवेशी च शरीरमेव च । गृहे च तस्योषितवानहं सुखं राजाऽस्मि तस्य स्वपुरेऽभवं पुरा ॥

yudhiṣṭhirasyāpi sakhā'bhavaṃ purā gṛhapraveśī ca śarīrameva ca | gṛhe ca tasyoṣitavānahaṃ sukhaṃ rājā'smi tasya svapure'bhavaṃ purā

In the past I was also Yudhishthira's friend, free to enter his house, as close as his own body. I lived happily in his house; in former days I was like a king in his city.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 95–98. Corrected तस्योपितवानहं → तस्योषितवानहं (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; उषितवान्, "I dwelt" — the apparatus reads tasyoṣita-).

Verse 37 (4.9.37)

ममाज्ञया तत्र विचेरुरङ्गना मम प्रियार्थं दमयन्ति वाजिनः । मया कृतं तस्य पुरे तु यत्पुरा न तत्कदाचित्कृतवाञ्जनोऽन्यथा ॥

mamājñayā tatra viceruraṅganā mama priyārthaṃ damayanti vājinaḥ | mayā kṛtaṃ tasya pure tu yatpurā na tatkadācitkṛtavāñjano'nyathā

There the women went about at my command, and horses were broken in to please me. What I did in his city in former days no other man ever did.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 99–102.

Verse 38 (4.9.38)

सोहं पुरा तस्य वयस्समः सखा चरामि सर्वां वसुधां सुदुःखितः । न तु प्रशान्तिं क्वचिदाप्तवानहं व्रतोपदेशान्नियमेन भारिकः ॥

sohaṃ purā tasya vayassamaḥ sakhā carāmi sarvāṃ vasudhāṃ suduḥkhitaḥ | na tu praśāntiṃ kvacidāptavānahaṃ vratopadeśānniyamena bhārikaḥ

I who was once his friend and of his own age now wander the whole earth in deep sorrow. Nowhere have I found peace, carrying the burden of my vow and its rule.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 103–106.

Verse 39 (4.9.39)

वैयाघ्रपद्योस्मि नरेन्द्र गोत्रतस्तदेव सौख्यं मृगयामहे वयम् । कृतज्ञभावेन मयाऽनुकीर्तितं युधिष्ठिरस्यात्मसमस्य चेष्टितम् ॥

vaiyāghrapadyosmi narendra gotratastadeva saukhyaṃ mṛgayāmahe vayam | kṛtajñabhāvena mayā'nukīrtitaṃ yudhiṣṭhirasyātmasamasya ceṣṭitam

By gotra I am a Vaiyaghrapadya, lord of men, and it is that same happiness we are seeking. Out of gratitude I have told of the doings of Yudhishthira, who is like my own self.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 107–110.

Verse 40 (4.9.40)

इमं हि मोक्षाश्रममास्थितस्य मे युधिष्ठिरस्तुल्यगुणो भवानपि । न मेऽस्ति माता न पिता न बान्धवा न मेऽस्ति रूपं न रतिर्न सन्ततिः ॥

imaṃ hi mokṣāśramamāsthitasya me yudhiṣṭhirastulyaguṇo bhavānapi | na me'sti mātā na pitā na bāndhavā na me'sti rūpaṃ na ratirna santatiḥ

To me, who have entered this stage of life devoted to liberation, you too are Yudhishthira's equal in virtues. I have no mother, no father, no kin; I have no beauty, no pleasures, no offspring.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 111–114.

Verse 41 (4.9.41)

सुखं च दुःखं च हि तुल्यमद्य मे प्रियाप्रिये तुल्यगते गतागते । मुक्तोस्मि कामाच्च धनाच्च सांप्रतं त्वदाश्रये वस्तुमिहाभ्युपागतः ॥

sukhaṃ ca duḥkhaṃ ca hi tulyamadya me priyāpriye tulyagate gatāgate | muktosmi kāmācca dhanācca sāṃprataṃ tvadāśraye vastumihābhyupāgataḥ

Pleasure and pain are now the same to me; the dear and the hateful, coming and going, are alike. I am free now of desire and of wealth, and have come here to live under your shelter.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 115–118.

Verse 42 (4.9.42)

संवत्सरेणेह समाप्यते त्विदं मम व्रतं दुष्करकर्मकारिणः । ततो भवन्तं परितोष्य कर्मभिः पुनर्व्रजिष्ये च कुतूहलं यतः ॥

saṃvatsareṇeha samāpyate tvidaṃ mama vrataṃ duṣkarakarmakāriṇaḥ | tato bhavantaṃ paritoṣya karmabhiḥ punarvrajiṣye ca kutūhalaṃ yataḥ

In a year this vow of mine, who perform hard deeds, will be completed here. Then, when I have pleased you with my services, I shall go on again wherever my longing leads me.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 119–122.

Verse 43 (4.9.43)

अक्षान्निवप्तुं कुशलोस्म्यहं सदा पराजितः शकुनिरुतानि चिन्तयन् । मृगद्विजानां च रुतानि चिन्तयन्निराश्रयः प्रव्रजितोस्मि भिक्षुकः ॥

akṣānnivaptuṃ kuśalosmyahaṃ sadā parājitaḥ śakunirutāni cintayan | mṛgadvijānāṃ ca rutāni cintayannirāśrayaḥ pravrajitosmi bhikṣukaḥ

I have always been skilled at casting the dice. Defeated, I pondered the cries of birds; pondering the cries of beasts and birds, without a home, I became a wandering mendicant."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 123–126. Corrected कुशलोस्म्वहं → कुशलोस्म्यहं (misprint in Wikisource; म्व for म्य; अस्मि अहम्).

Verse 44 (4.9.44)

तेनैवमुक्ते वचने नराधिपः कृताञ्जलिः प्रव्रजितं विलोक्य च । अथाब्रवीद्धृष्टमनाः शुभाक्षरं मनोनुगं सर्वसभागतं वचः ॥

tenaivamukte vacane narādhipaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ pravrajitaṃ vilokya ca | athābravīddhṛṣṭamanāḥ śubhākṣaraṃ manonugaṃ sarvasabhāgataṃ vacaḥ

When he had said this, the king, with joined palms, looked at the ascetic and, glad at heart, spoke well-turned words that pleased him and the whole assembly:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 127–130.

Verse 45 (4.9.45)

ददामि ते हन्त वरं यदीप्सितं प्रशाधि मत्स्यान्यदि मन्यते भवान् । प्रिया हि धूर्ता मम चाक्षकोविदास्त्वं चापि देवो मम राज्यमर्हसि ॥

dadāmi te hanta varaṃ yadīpsitaṃ praśādhi matsyānyadi manyate bhavān | priyā hi dhūrtā mama cākṣakovidāstvaṃ cāpi devo mama rājyamarhasi

"Come, I give you whatever boon you desire. Rule the Matsyas, if you think it right. Gamblers skilled in dice are dear to me, and you, who are like a god, are worthy of my kingdom.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 131–134. It is the vulgate form of the critical edition's 4.6.11. No speaker heading in Wikisource; Virata's speech (verses 45–48), announced in verse 44, is assigned to him (Wikisource carried over Vaishampayana).

Verse 46 (4.9.46)

समानयानासनवस्त्रभोजनं प्रभूतमाल्याभरणानुलेपनम् । स सार्वभौमोपम सर्वदाऽर्हसि प्रियं हि मन्ये तव नित्यदर्शनम् ॥

samānayānāsanavastrabhojanaṃ prabhūtamālyābharaṇānulepanam | sa sārvabhaumopama sarvadā'rhasi priyaṃ hi manye tava nityadarśanam

You deserve at all times the same carriages, seats, clothes and food as I have, with abundant garlands, ornaments and unguents, you who are like a sovereign of the whole earth; for I count it dear to see you every day.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 135–138. Corrected प्रभ्रूत → प्रभूत (misprint in Wikisource; stray र in the conjunct; the apparatus reads prabhūta-).

Verse 47 (4.9.47)

ये त्वाऽभिधावेयुरनर्थपीडिता द्विजातिमुख्या यदि वेतरे जनाः । सर्वाणि कार्याण्यहमर्थितस्त्वया तेषां करिष्यामि न मेऽत्र संशयः ॥

ye tvā'bhidhāveyuranarthapīḍitā dvijātimukhyā yadi vetare janāḥ | sarvāṇi kāryāṇyahamarthitastvayā teṣāṃ kariṣyāmi na me'tra saṃśayaḥ

Whoever, oppressed by misfortune, runs to you for help — chief brahmins or other people — when you ask me, I will see to all their affairs; of that I have no doubt.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 139–142.

Verse 48 (4.9.48)

ममान्तिके यश्च तवाप्रियं चरेत्प्रवासये तं परिचिन्त्य मानवम् । यच्चापि किंचिद्वसु विद्यते मम प्रभुर्भवांस्तस्य वशी वसेह च ॥

mamāntike yaśca tavāpriyaṃ caretpravāsaye taṃ paricintya mānavam | yaccāpi kiṃcidvasu vidyate mama prabhurbhavāṃstasya vaśī vaseha ca

And whoever in my presence does what displeases you, I will weigh the man's case and banish him. Whatever wealth I possess, you are its master; live here with it at your command."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 143–146.

Verse 49 (4.9.49)

अतोऽभिलाषः परमो न विद्यते न मे जितं किंचन धारये धनम् । न भोजनं किंचन संस्पृशेयं हविष्यभोजी निशि च क्षितीशयः ॥

ato'bhilāṣaḥ paramo na vidyate na me jitaṃ kiṃcana dhāraye dhanam | na bhojanaṃ kiṃcana saṃspṛśeyaṃ haviṣyabhojī niśi ca kṣitīśayaḥ

"Beyond this I have no great desire. I would keep no wealth that I win at all. I would touch no rich food at all; I eat only sacrificial fare and sleep on the ground at night.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 147–150.

Verse 50 (4.9.50)

व्रतोपदेशात्समयो हि नैष्ठिको न क्रोधितव्यं नरदेव कस्यचित् । एवंप्रतिज्ञस्य ममेह भूपते निवासबुद्धिर्भविता तु नान्यथा ॥

vratopadeśātsamayo hi naiṣṭhiko na krodhitavyaṃ naradeva kasyacit | evaṃpratijñasya mameha bhūpate nivāsabuddhirbhavitā tu nānyathā

By the instruction of my vow my rule is lifelong: I must not be angry with anyone, lord of men. Bound by such a pledge, O king, I can settle on living here — and not otherwise.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 151–154.

Verse 51 (4.9.51)

एवं वरं मात्स्य वृणे प्रदापितं कृती भविष्यामि वरेण तेऽनघ ॥

evaṃ varaṃ mātsya vṛṇe pradāpitaṃ kṛtī bhaviṣyāmi vareṇa te'nagha

This is the boon I choose from what you have offered, king of the Matsyas; by your boon I shall have gained my end, sinless one."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 155–156. A single line in Wikisource, as in the apparatus. Corrected कृति → कृती (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative कृती, "fulfilled", is needed; the apparatus reads kṛtī).

Verse 52 (4.9.52)

एवं तु राज्ञः प्रथमः समागमो बभूव मात्स्यस्य युधिष्ठिरस्य च । विराटराजस्य हि तेन सङ्गमो बभूव विष्णोरिव वज्रपाणिना ॥

evaṃ tu rājñaḥ prathamaḥ samāgamo babhūva mātsyasya yudhiṣṭhirasya ca | virāṭarājasya hi tena saṅgamo babhūva viṣṇoriva vajrapāṇinā

Such was the first meeting between the king of the Matsyas and King Yudhishthira; King Virata's meeting with him was like Vishnu's with the wielder of the thunderbolt.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 157–160.

Verse 53 (4.9.53)

तमासनस्थं प्रियरूपदर्शनं निरीक्षमाणो न ततर्प भूमिपः । सभां च तां प्रज्वलयन्युधिष्ठिरः श्रिया यथा शक्रइव त्रिविष्टपम् ॥

tamāsanasthaṃ priyarūpadarśanaṃ nirīkṣamāṇo na tatarpa bhūmipaḥ | sabhāṃ ca tāṃ prajvalayanyudhiṣṭhiraḥ śriyā yathā śakraiva triviṣṭapam

Gazing at him as he sat on his seat, so pleasing to behold, the king could not have his fill of looking; and Yudhishthira lit up that assembly with his splendour as Shakra lights up heaven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 4.6.15*0180, lines 161–164.

Verse 54 (4.9.54)

एवं स लब्ध्वा नृपतिः समागमं विराटराजेन नरर्षभस्तदा । उवास वीरः परमार्चितः सुखी न चास्य कश्चिच्चरितं बुबोध तत् ॥

evaṃ sa labdhvā nṛpatiḥ samāgamaṃ virāṭarājena nararṣabhastadā | uvāsa vīraḥ paramārcitaḥ sukhī na cāsya kaściccaritaṃ bubodha tat

Having thus gained his meeting with King Virata, that hero, that bull among men, lived there highly honoured and content, and no one discovered what he was about.