04.012
Janamejaya said.
Thus, the Pāṇḍavas dwelled in the city of Matsya. After that, O twice-born, what did those mighty heroes do next? (04-12-1)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus the Kuru princes stayed there in concealment. Listen to what they did while honoring the king. (04-12-2)
Yudhiṣṭhira, the foremost in the assembly, became dear to the members of the assembly. Likewise, O lord of the people, he was dear to Virāṭa and his son. (04-12-3)
He, the skilled dice-player, the son of Pāṇḍu, indeed played with them on the dice-board at will, as if the twice-born were strung on a thread. (04-12-4)
Dharmarāṭ (Yudhiṣṭhira), the tiger among men, having conquered the unknown wealth of Virāṭa, indeed gives it suitably to his brothers. (04-12-5)
Bhīmasena also sells to Yudhiṣṭhira various edible meats left over by Matsya. (04-12-6)
Arjuna obtains worn out garments in the inner chambers, sells them, and gives them to all the Pāṇḍavas. (04-12-7)
Sahadeva, the Pāṇḍava, also, having assumed the attire of cowherds, gives curd, milk, and ghee to the Pāṇḍavas. (04-12-8)
Nakula also, having acquired wealth after the horse-sacrifice was accomplished and the king was pleased, gives it to the Pāṇḍavas. (04-12-9)
Kṛṣṇā too, looking at all those brothers, that ascetic lady moved about just as if she were unrecognized—the illustrious woman conducted herself in that way. (04-12-10)
Thus, O king, those great chariot-warriors, while accomplishing (their aims) in this way with each other and watching Kṛṣṇā, concealed themselves and stayed in hiding. (04-12-11)
Then, in the fourth month, there was a very great and prosperous festival of Brahmā among the Matsyas, highly esteemed by men. (04-12-12)
O king, there wrestlers by the thousands gathered from all directions—great-bodied and mighty, misshapen by Time, like demons. (04-12-13)
Endowed with great heroism, exceedingly strong, honored by the king, with the shoulders, waist, and necks of lions, possessing self-born radiance and a noble mind—those men repeatedly achieved their aims on the arena in the presence of the king. (4-12-14)
Among them, there was one great wrestler who challenged all the wrestlers together. Although he was leaping in the arena, not a single person approached him. (04-12-15)
When all the wrestlers became dispirited and downcast, then the king of Matsya had the charioteer make that wrestler fight. (04-12-16)
Then, being questioned, Bhīma, deeply grieved, made up his mind, for he could not openly refuse the king. (04-12-17)
Then that tiger among men, moving with the looseness of a tiger, entered the great arena, bringing joy to King Virāṭa. (04-12-18)
Kaunteya tied on his girdle and, gladdening the people, then Bhima challenged that wrestler who resembled Vṛtra. (04-12-19)
Those two, both with great enthusiasm and intense valor, resembled sixty-year-old, great-bodied, intoxicated elephants. (04-12-20)
Bhima, the destroyer of enemies, uprooted the wrestler with his two arms and dragged him, roaring and shouting at him, like a tiger attacks an elephant. (04-12-21)
The mighty-armed, powerful one lifted him up and whirled him. Then the wrestlers and the people of Matsya were greatly astonished. (04-12-22)
Vṛkodara, the mighty-armed, whirled the wrestler a hundred times and, when he was devoid of strength and unconscious, threw him down on the ground. (04-12-23)
When that wrestler Jīmūta, renowned in the world, was slain, Virāṭa, along with his kinsmen, attained the highest joy. (04-12-24)
Out of great joy, the magnanimous king gave much wealth to Ballava in the great arena, just as Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera) would do. (04-12-25)
In this way, while defeating many wrestlers and mighty men, he brought the utmost delight to the king of the Matsyas. (04-12-26)
When there was no man equal to him there, then he fought with tigers, lions, and elephants also. (04-12-27)
Again, having entered the inner quarters, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) was engaged in battle by Virāṭa with mad and mighty lions, in the presence of the women. (04-12-28)
Arjuna, even as Bībhatsu, delighted King Virāṭa and all the women of the inner palace with his singing and excellent dancing. (04-12-29)
Nakula gratified the king, the best among kings, by assembling disciplined and swift horses here and there. (04-12-30)
The king, pleased, gave much wealth to him, having seen the humble bulls of Sahadeva, O chief. (04-12-31)
Thus, those foremost of men lived there concealed, performing tasks for King Virāṭa at that time. (04-12-32)
