4-1-001
जनमेजय उवाच
कथं विराटनगरे मम पूर्वपितामहाः
अज्ञातवासमुषिता दुर्योधनभयार्दिताः
Janamejaya asked, "Oppressed by fear of Duryodhana, how did my great grandfathers live in disguise in the city of Virāṭa?"
4-1-002
वैशंपायन उवाच
तथा तु स वराँल्लब्ध्वा धर्माद्धर्मभृतां वरः
गत्वाश्रमं ब्राह्मणेभ्य आचख्यौ सर्वमेव तत्
Vaiśampāyana said: Having obtained boons from Dharma in that fashion, the one who was foremost among upholders of dharma returned to the hermitage and told the brāhmana-s everything that had happened.
4-1-003
कथयित्वा तु तत्सर्वं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो युधिष्ठिरः
अरणीसहितं तस्मै ब्राह्मणाय न्यवेदयत्
Having recounted everything to the brāhmana-s, Yudhiṣṭhira returned the kindling to the brāhmaṇa.
4-1-004
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा धर्मपुत्रो महामनाः
संनिवर्त्यानुजान्सर्वानिति होवाच भारत
O descendant of the Bhārata lineage! Then Dharma's son, the great-minded King Yudhiṣṭhira, called all his younger brothers and spoke to them in this way.
4-1-005
द्वादशेमानि वर्षाणि राष्ट्राद्विप्रोषिता वयम्
त्रयोदशोऽयं संप्राप्तः कृच्छ्रः परमदुर्वसः
"Dislodged from our kingdom, we have lived for twelve years and the thirteenth has arrived now. We will have to live through a difficult period.
4-1-006
स साधु कौन्तेय इतो वासमर्जुन रोचय
यत्रेमा वसतीः सर्वा वसेमाविदिताः परैः
O Kaunteya Arjuna! Therefore, think of a desirable place where all of us may dwell, without being detected by our enemies."
4-1-007
अर्जुन उवाच
तस्यैव वरदानेन धर्मस्य मनुजाधिप
अज्ञाता विचरिष्यामो नराणां भरतर्षभ
Arjuna replied: "O lord of men! O bull among the Bhārata lineage! Because of the boon that has been given to us by Dharma, we can roam undetected by men.
4-1-008
किं तु वासाय राष्ट्राणि कीर्तयिष्यामि कानिचित्
रमणीयानि गुप्तानि तेषां किंचित्स्म रोचय
I will recount the kingdoms where we may dwell. Some of them are beautiful and secluded. Which of these seems attractive to you?
4-1-009
सन्ति रम्या जनपदा बह्वन्नाः परितः कुरून्
पाञ्चालाश्चेदिमत्स्याश्च शूरसेनाः पटच्चराः
दशार्णा नवराष्ट्रं च मल्लाः शाल्वा युगंधराः
Around the kingdom of the Kuru-s, there are many beautiful countries with an abundance of food—Pāñcāla, Cedi, Mātsya, Śūrasena, Paṭaccara, Dāśārṇa, Navarāṣṭra, Malla, Śālva and Yugandhara.
4-1-010
एतेषां कतमो राजन्निवासस्तव रोचते
वत्स्यामो यत्र राजेन्द्र संवत्सरमिमं वयम्
O king! Which among these seems to you to be an attractive place to live in? O Indra among kings! Where will we dwell for a year?"
4-1-011
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा स भगवान्प्रभुः
अब्रवीत्सर्वभूतेशस्तत्तथा न तदन्यथा
Yudhiṣṭhira said: "O mighty-armed one! It will indeed be as the illustrious lord of all beings has said. It cannot be otherwise.
4-1-012
अवश्यं त्वेव वासार्थं रमणीयं शिवं सुखम्
संमन्त्र्य सहितैः सर्वैर्द्रष्टव्यमकुतोभयम्
We must certainly dwell in a place that is beautiful, auspicious and pleasant, where all of us can live without any fear. Let us consult among ourselves.
4-1-013
मत्स्यो विराटो बलवानभिरक्षेत्स पाण्डवान्
धर्मशीलो वदान्यश्च वृद्धश्च सुमहाधनः
The powerful Mātsya Virāṭa will protect the Pāṇḍava-s. He is aged, generous, with a great deal of riches and conducts himself in accordance with dharma.
4-1-014
विराटनगरे तात संवत्सरमिमं वयम्
कुर्वन्तस्तस्य कर्माणि विहरिष्याम भारत
O son! O descendant of the Bhārata lineage! Let us happily spend a year in the city of Virāṭa. We will perform tasks for him there.
4-1-015
यानि यानि च कर्माणि तस्य शक्ष्यामहे वयम्
कर्तुं यो यत्स तत्कर्म ब्रवीतु कुरुनन्दनाः
O descendants of the Kuru lineage! Let each one of us describe the tasks that he will perform, the kind of duties that we will undertake for him."
4-1-016
अर्जुन उवाच
नरदेव कथं कर्म राष्ट्रे तस्य करिष्यसि
विराटनृपतेः साधो रंस्यसे केन कर्मणा
Arjuna replied: "O god among men! O virtuous one! What duty will you undertake in the kingdom of King Virāṭa? What appeals to you?
4-1-017
मृदुर्वदान्यो ह्रीमांश्च धार्मिकः सत्यविक्रमः
राजंस्त्वमापदा क्लिष्टः किं करिष्यसि पाण्डव
You are gentle, generous, modest and devoted to dharma. Truth is your valour. O king! O Pāṇḍava! Confronted by this calamity, what will you do?
4-1-018
न दुःखमुचितं किंचिद्राजन्वेद यथा जनः
स इमामापदं प्राप्य कथं घोरां तरिष्यसि
O king! You are not familiar with the hardships faced by ordinary people. How will you paś-s through this calamity that has come over you?"
4-1-019
युधिष्ठिर उवाच
शृणुध्वं यत्करिष्यामि कर्म वै कुरुनन्दनाः
विराटमनुसंप्राप्य राजानं पुरुषर्षभम्
Yudhiṣṭhira said: "O descendants of the Kuru lineage! Listen to the duties that I will undertake. When I arrive before King Virāṭa, bull among men,
4-1-020
सभास्तारो भविष्यामि तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः
कङ्को नाम द्विजो भूत्वा मताक्षः प्रियदेविता
I will become a member of that great-souled king's assembly. I will pose as a brāhmaṇa named Kaṅka, skilled in dice and fond of gambling.
4-1-021
वैडूर्यान्काञ्चनान्दान्तान्फलैर्ज्योतीरसैः सह
कृष्णाक्षाँल्लोहिताक्षांश्च निर्वर्त्स्यामि मनोरमान्
I will use beautiful dice made out of lapis lazuli, gold, ivory and lustrous fruit, with black and red dots.
4-1-022
आसं युधिष्ठिरस्याहं पुरा प्राणसमः सखा
इति वक्ष्यामि राजानं यदि मामनुयोक्ष्यते
If asked, I will tell the king that in earlier times I used to be Yudhiṣṭhira's friend, as dear to him as life itself.
4-1-023
इत्येतद्वो मयाख्यातं विहरिष्याम्यहं यथा
वृकोदर विराटे त्वं रंस्यसे केन कर्मणा
I have now told you how I wish to spend my time. O Vṛkodara! What task will you perform in Virāṭa?"