Section I

OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of male beings, and also to the goddess Sarasvati, 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 your 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, has now come. Do you 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 you select some one of them. Surrounding the kingdom of the Kurus, are, many countries beautiful and abounding in corn, such as Pancala, Chedi, Matsya, Surasena, Pattaccara, Dasarna, Navarashtra, Malla, Salva, Yugandhara, Saurashtra, Avanti, and the spacious Kuntirashtra. Which of these, O king, wouldst you 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 has 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, you sons of the Kuru race, in what capacities you will severally present yourselves before the king of the Matsyas!"

Arjuna said,

"O god among men, what service will you take in Virata’s kingdom? O righteous one, in what capacity will you reside in the city of Virata? You are mild, and charitable, and modest, and virtuous, and firm in promise. What will you, O king, afflicted as you are with calamity, do? A king is qualified to bear trouble like an ordinary person. How will you overcome this great calamity that has overtaken you?"

Yudhishthira replied,

"You sons of the Kuru race, you 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 will you, O Vrikodara, fill in the city of Virata?"

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Brahma Vadini--Nilakantha explains this as Krishna-kirtanasila.