04.001
वैराटपर्व
The Book of Virata;
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
कथं विराटनगरे मम पूर्वपितामहाः। अज्ञातवासमुषिता दुर्योधनभयार्दिताः ॥०४-१-१॥
How did my forefathers, afflicted by fear of Duryodhana, spend the period of concealment in the city of Virāṭa? (04-1-1)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तथा तु स वराँल्लब्ध्वा धर्माद्धर्मभृतां वरः। गत्वाश्रमं ब्राह्मणेभ्य आचख्यौ सर्वमेव तत् ॥०४-१-२॥
Thus, he, the foremost among the upholders of righteousness, having obtained the boons from Dharma, went to the hermitage and told all of that to the Brāhmaṇas. (04-1-2)
कथयित्वा तु तत्सर्वं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो युधिष्ठिरः। अरणीसहितं तस्मै ब्राह्मणाय न्यवेदयत् ॥०४-१-३॥
But after stating all that to the Brāhmaṇas, Yudhiṣṭhira gave to that Brāhmaṇa the firesticks along with (everything else). (04-1-3)
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा धर्मपुत्रो महामनाः। संनिवर्त्यानुजान्सर्वानिति होवाच भारत ॥०४-१-४॥
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, the noble-minded king and son of Dharma, called back all his younger brothers and spoke thus, O Bhārata. (04-1-4)
द्वादशेमानि वर्षाणि राष्ट्राद्विप्रोषिता वयम्। त्रयोदशोऽयं सम्प्राप्तः कृच्छ्रः परमदुर्वसः ॥०४-१-५॥
We have been exiled from the kingdom for these twelve years; now, the thirteenth—an extremely difficult and hard-to-endure period—has arrived. (04-1-5)
स साधु कौन्तेय इतो वासमर्जुन रोचय। यत्रेमा वसतीः सर्वा वसेमाविदिताः परैः ॥०४-१-६॥
Therefore, O son of Kunti, Arjuna, choose a dwelling here where we all may live in these abodes, unnoticed by others. (04-1-6)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
तस्यैव वरदानेन धर्मस्य मनुजाधिप। अज्ञाता विचरिष्यामो नराणां भरतर्षभ ॥०४-१-७॥
O lord of men, by the very boon of Dharma, we shall go about unknown among men, O bull among the Bharatas. (04-1-7)
किं तु वासाय राष्ट्राणि कीर्तयिष्यामि कानिचित्। रमणीयानि गुप्तानि तेषां किञ्चित्स्म रोचय ॥०४-१-८॥
But for dwelling, I shall recount some countries; among those, choose a few which are pleasing and protected. (04-1-8)
सन्ति रम्या जनपदा बह्वन्नाः परितः कुरून्। पाञ्चालाश्चेदिमत्स्याश्च शूरसेनाः पटच्चराः ॥ दशार्णा नवराष्ट्रं च मल्लाः शाल्वा युगन्धराः ॥०४-१-९॥
There are beautiful and fertile regions around the Kuru land: the Pañcālas, the Cedis and Matsyas, the Śūrasenas, the Paṭaccaras, the Daśārṇas, the Nava-rashtra, the Mallas, the Śālvas, and the Yugandharas. (04-1-9)
एतेषां कतमो राजन्निवासस्तव रोचते। वत्स्यामो यत्र राजेन्द्र संवत्सरमिमं वयम् ॥०४-१-१०॥
O king, which of these residences do you prefer? Where shall we stay for this year, O lord of kings? (04-1-10)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा स भगवान्प्रभुः। अब्रवीत्सर्वभूतेशस्तत्तथा न तदन्यथा ॥०४-१-११॥
O mighty-armed one, it is just as the glorious lord, the lord of all beings, has spoken; it is so and not otherwise. (04-1-11)
अवश्यं त्वेव वासार्थं रमणीयं शिवं सुखम्। संमन्त्र्य सहितैः सर्वैर्द्रष्टव्यमकुतोभयम् ॥०४-१-१२॥
Certainly, for the purpose of dwelling, a place that is beautiful, auspicious, and comfortable should be considered—having taken counsel with all companions—whether it is free from danger from any direction. (04-1-12)
मत्स्यो विराटो बलवानभिरक्षेत्स पाण्डवान्। धर्मशीलो वदान्यश्च वृद्धश्च सुमहाधनः ॥०४-१-१३॥
Virāṭa, the king of the Matsyas—who is strong, virtuous, generous, elderly, and very wealthy—should protect the Pāṇḍavas. (04-1-13)
विराटनगरे तात संवत्सरमिमं वयम्। कुर्वन्तस्तस्य कर्माणि विहरिष्याम भारत ॥०४-१-१४॥
O Bhārata, we will spend this year in the city of Virāta performing his tasks, dear one. (04-1-14)
यानि यानि च कर्माणि तस्य शक्ष्यामहे वयम्। कर्तुं यो यत्स तत्कर्म ब्रवीतु कुरुनन्दनाः ॥०४-१-१५॥
O descendants of Kuru, whichever actions of his we shall be able to perform, let him who knows say which those are, and let him state that task. (04-1-15)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
नरदेव कथं कर्म राष्ट्रे तस्य करिष्यसि। विराटनृपतेः साधो रंस्यसे केन कर्मणा ॥०४-१-१६॥
O king, how will you act in his kingdom? O noble one, by what work will you enjoy yourself in King Virata's realm? (04-1-16)
मृदुर्वदान्यो ह्रीमांश्च धार्मिकः सत्यविक्रमः। राजंस्त्वमापदा क्लिष्टः किं करिष्यसि पाण्डव ॥०४-१-१७॥
O king, gentle, generous, modest, righteous, and truly valiant, afflicted by calamity, what will you do, O Pāṇḍava? (04-1-17)
न दुःखमुचितं किञ्चिद्राजन्वेद यथा जनः। स इमामापदं प्राप्य कथं घोरां तरिष्यसि ॥०४-१-१८॥
O king, no person knows how to endure anything appropriate to suffering. Having come into this terrible affliction, how will you cross over it? (04-1-18)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
शृणुध्वं यत्करिष्यामि कर्म वै कुरुनन्दनाः। विराटमनुसम्प्राप्य राजानं पुरुषर्षभम् ॥०४-१-१९॥
Hear, O descendants of Kuru, what action I shall indeed undertake—having approached King Virāṭa, the foremost among men. (04-1-19)
सभास्तारो भविष्यामि तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः। कङ्को नाम द्विजो भूत्वा मताक्षः प्रियदेविता ॥०४-१-२०॥
I will serve as a courtier of that great-souled king. Assuming the name Kaṅka as a twice-born and dice-expert, I shall become his favorite. (04-1-20)
वैडूर्यान्काञ्चनान्दान्तान्फलैर्ज्योतीरसैः सह। कृष्णाक्षाँल्लोहिताक्षांश्च निर्वर्त्स्यामि मनोरमान् ॥०४-१-२१॥
I will construct beautiful (trees/statues/etc.) made of cat's eye gems, gold, ivory, fruits, and resplendent sapphires, as well as beautiful ones with black or red eyes. (04-1-21)
आसं युधिष्ठिरस्याहं पुरा प्राणसमः सखा। इति वक्ष्यामि राजानं यदि मामनुयोक्ष्यते ॥०४-१-२२॥
If the king asks me, I will say this: "Formerly, I was a friend equal to life for Yudhiṣṭhira." (04-1-22)
इत्येतद्वो मयाख्यातं विहरिष्याम्यहं यथा। वृकोदर विराटे त्वं रंस्यसे केन कर्मणा ॥०४-१-२३॥
Thus, I have told this to you; I will act as indicated. Bhīma, in the kingdom of Virāṭa, by what duty will you be engaged? (04-1-23)
