The
Mahabharata
Translated
into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text
SECTION
I
(Pandava-Pravesa Parva)
OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara,
the most exalted of male beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the
word Jaya be uttered.
Janamejaya said, "How did my
great-grandfathers, afflicted with the fear of Duryodhana, pass their days
undiscovered in the city of Virata? And, O
Brahman,
how did the highly blessed Draupadi, stricken with woe, devoted to her lords,
and ever adoring the Deity[1], spend her days unrecognised?"
Vaisampayana said, "Listen, O lord of
men, how thy great grandfathers passed the period of unrecognition in the city
of Virata. Having in this way obtained boons from the god of Justice, that best
of virtuous men,
Yudhishthira,
returned to the asylum and related unto the Brahmanas all that had happened.
And having related everything unto them, Yudhishthira restored to that
regenerate Brahmana, who had followed him the churning staff and the
fire-sticks he had lost. And, O Bharata, the son of the god of Justice, the
royal Yudhishthira of high soul then called together all his younger brothers
and addressed them, saying, 'Exiled from our kingdom, we have passed twelve
years. The thirteenth year, hard to spend, hath now come. Do thou therefore, O
Arjuna, the son of Kunti, select some spot where we may pass our days
undiscovered by our enemies.'"
Arjuna replied, "Even by virtue of
Dharma's boon, we shall, O lord of men, range about undiscovered by men. Still,
for purposes of residence, I shall mention some spots that are both delightful
and secluded. Do thou select some one of them. Surrounding the kingdom of the
Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Panchala,
Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattachchara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara,
Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious Kuntirashtra. Which of these, O king,
wouldst thou choose, and where, O foremost of monarchs, shall we spend this
year?"
Yudhishthira
said "O them of mighty arms, it is even so. What that adorable Lord of all
creatures hath said must become true. Surely, after consulting together, we
must select some delightful, auspicious, and agreeable region for our abode,
where we may live free from fear. The aged Virata, king of the Matsyas, is
virtuous and powerful and charitable, and is liked by all. And he is also
attached to the Pandavas. Even in the city of Virata, O child, we shall, O Bharata,
spend this year, entering his service. Tell me, ye sons of the Kuru race, in
what capacities ye will severally present yourselves before the king of the Matsyas!"
Arjuna said, "O god among men, what
service wilt thou take in Virata's kingdom? O righteous one, in what capacity
wilt thou reside in the city of Virata? Thou art mild, and charitable, and
modest, and virtuous, and firm in promise. What wilt thou, O king, afflicted as
thou art with calamity, do? A king is qualified to bear trouble like an
ordinary person. How wilt thou overcome this great calamity that has overtaken thee?"
Yudhishthira replied, "Ye sons of the
Kuru race, ye bulls among men, hear what I shall do on appearing before king Virata.
Presenting myself as a Brahmana, Kanka by name, skilled in dice and fond of
play, I shall become a courtier of that high-souled king. And moving upon
chess-boards beautiful pawns made of ivory, of blue and yellow and red and
white hue, by throws of black and red dice. I shall entertain the king with his
courtiers and friends. And while I shall continue to thus delight the king,
nobody will succeed in discovering me. And should the monarch ask me, I shall
say, 'Formerly I was the bosom friend of Yudhishthira.' I tell you that it is
thus that I shall pass my days (in the city of Virata). What office wilt thou,
O Vrikodara, fill in the city of Virata?"
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