वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो विराटं प्रथमं युधिष्ठिरो राजा सभायामुपविष्टमाव्रजत्। नक्षान् स कक्षे परिगृह्य वाससा॥ नराधिपो राष्ट्रपति यशस्विनं महायशाः कौरववंशवर्धनः। महानुभावो नरराजसत्कृतो दुरासदस्तीक्ष्णविषो यथोरगः॥ नपूर्वरूपेण यथामरस्तथा। र्यथानलो भस्मवृतश्च वीर्यवान्॥
Vaishampayana said Then having tied up in his cloth dice made of gold set with sapphires and placed them under his arm-pit, the king Yudhishthira, the lord of men, of great glory, founder of the Kuru family, of great soul, respected by kings, hard to be approached like a serpent of virulent venom. The best of men, great in might and beauty, resembling a deity in form, appearing like the sun enveloped with thick clouds, and like the mighty fire covered with ashes, first presented himself before the illustrious king Virata while he was seated in the court.
तमापतन्तं प्रसमीक्ष्य पाण्डवं विराटराडिन्दुमिवाभ्रसंवृतम्। समागतं पूर्णशशिप्रभाननं महानुभावं न चिरेण दृष्टवान्॥
The king Virata first saw the Pandava coming like the moon covered with clouds and then in a moment found him arrived at the court, with a countenance like the full moon and possessed of a great splendour.
मन्त्रिद्विजान् सूतमुखान् विशस्तथा ये चापि केचित् परितः समासते। पप्रच्छ कोऽयं प्रथम समेयिवान् नृपोपमोऽयं समवेक्षते सभाम्॥
The king Virata asked his counsellors, the Brahmanas, the charioteers, the Vaishyas and all others who took their seats about him, "who might be the man that has come first, and just like a king appears in my court.
न तु द्विजोऽयं भविता नरोत्तमः पतिः पृथिव्या इति मे मनोगतम्। न चास्य दासो न रथो न कुढारः समीपतो भ्राजति चायमिन्द्रवत्॥
This best of men can not be a Brahmin; me-thinks he is a lord of earth, though he has neither a slave, nor a car, nor an elephant with him, yet he shines just like Indra.
शरीरलिङ्गैरूपसूचितो ह्ययं मूर्द्धाभिषिक्त इति मे मनोगतम्। समीपमायाति च मे गतव्यथो यथा गजस्तामरसी मदोत्कटः॥
By the marks on his person it is indicated that he is no other than one whose head has gone through the ceremony of coronal baths, and that is my belief. He approaches me as fearless as an elephant in a ruttish frenzy approaches a lotus.”
वितर्कयन्तं तु नरर्षभस्तथा युधिष्ठिरोऽभ्येत्य विराटमब्रवीत्। सम्राड्विजानात्विह जीवनार्थिनं विनष्टसर्वस्वमुपागतं द्विजम्॥
Yudhishthira, the best of men, having come near the king Virata while he was thus indulging in thoughts, addressed him saying "O great king, know me to be a Brahmin, who having lost all, have come to you, solicitous for his livelihood.
इहाहमिच्छामि तवानघान्तिके वस्तुं यथा कामचरस्तथा विभो। तमब्रवीत् स्वागतमित्यनन्तरं राजा प्रहृष्टः प्रतिसंगृहाण च॥
O sinless one, I wish to reside with you just like one obeying the voice of his master 0 Lord!" After having accorded him a due welcome the king well pleased said “accept the post you seek for."
तं राजसिंहं प्रतिगृह्य राजा प्रीत्याऽऽत्मना चैनमिदं बभाषे। कामेन ताताभिवदाम्यहं त्वां कस्यासि राज्ञो विषयादिहागतः॥ गोत्रं च नामापि च शंस तत्त्वतः। किं चापि शिल्पं तव विद्यते कृतम्॥
Having appointed him the best of kings, O king, glad at heart addressed him saying “O worshipful one I bow down to you" from the dominions of what king you are come here? Please tell me truly what your name is and what family you belong to and whether you have knowledge of any art.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच युधिष्ठिरस्यासमहं पुरा सखा वैयाघ्रपद्यः पुनरस्मि विप्रः। अक्षान् प्रयोक्तुं कुशलोऽस्मि देविनां कङ्केति नाम्नास्मि विराट विश्रुतः॥
Yudhishthira said I was formerly a friend of Yudhishthira, I am a Brahmin belonging to the family named Vaiayghara, I am expert in casting dice. O Virata, I am known by the name of Kanka.
विराट उवाच ददामि ते हन्त वरं यमिच्छसि प्रशाधि मत्स्यान् वशगो ह्यहं तव। प्रियाश्च धूर्ता मम देविनः सदा भवांश्च देवोपम राज्यमर्हति॥
Virata said I grant you the boon which you may desire. Rule over the Matsyas. Know me to be your obedient. Even the cunning gamblers are always beloved of me, you, like a king, deserve a kingdom.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच प्राप्तो विवादः प्रथमं विशाम्पते न विद्यते कं च न मत्स्य हीनतः। न मे जितः कश्चन धारयेद् धनं वरो ममैषोऽस्तु तव प्रसादजः॥
Yudhishthira said O Matsya, O lord of people, I shall never pick a quarrel, from the play at dice, with low people, nor shall any person be defeated by me. Let this boon be granted to me through your grace.
विराट उवाच हन्यामवश्यं यदि तेऽप्रियं चरेत् प्रव्राजयेयं विषयाद् द्विजांस्तथा। शृण्वन्तु में जानपदा: समागताः कङ्को यथाहं विषये प्रभुस्तथा॥
Virata said Surely shall I kill him who may do wrong to you. Should he be a Brahmin I shall banish him from my kingdom. Let my assembled subjects hear, Kanka, is as much lord of this my dominion as I myself.
समानयानो भवितासि मे सखा प्रभूतवस्त्रो बहुपानभोजनः। पश्येस्त्वमन्तश्च बहिश्च सर्वदा कृतं च ते द्वारमपावृतं मया॥
You (Kanka) shall be my friend, your vehicle shall be the same as mine, you shall have plenty of clothes and sundry sorts of drinks and dishes. You shall look into both ins and outs of my affair, I shall always keep my doors open for you.
ये त्वानुवादेऽयुरवृत्तिकर्शिता ब्रूयाश्च तेषां वचनेन मां सदा। दास्यामि सर्वं तदहं न संशयो न ते भयं विद्यति संनिधौ मम॥
When the people pressed by the want of employment, will apply to you, you shall at all hours tell me all their words. I shall undoubtedly give them all that they will ask for, before iny presence there will be no fear to you.
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं स लब्वा तु वरं समागम विराटराजेन नरर्षभस्तदा। उवास धीरः परमार्चितः सुखी न चापि कश्चिच्चरितं बुबोध तत्॥
Vaishampayana said Having thus obtained the boon from the king Virata he too the best of men began to live there happily, highly respected by all. Nor could any one discover him.