वैशम्पायन उवाच त्रुपाययौ सिंहविलासविक्रमः। नसिं च कालाङ्गमकोशमव्रणम्॥
Vaishampayana said Then there came another of dreadful strength and of shining beauty, with a gait as pleasant as that of a lion; holding in hand a cooking laddle and a spoon and an unsheathed sword of azure body and without a spot on the blade.
स सूदरूपः परमेण वर्चसा रविर्यथा लोकमिमं प्रकाशयन्। स्तं मत्स्यराजं समुपेत्य तस्थिवान्॥
Although in the guise of a cook he endued with the strength of the lord of mountains, and attired in dark garments, reached the king of the Matsya's and stood before him illuming, with his great splendour, all around him like the sun revealing the world.
तं प्रेक्ष्य राजा रमयन्नुपागतं ततोऽब्रवीज्जानपदान् समागतान्। सिंहोन्नतांसोऽयमतीव रूपवान् प्रदृश्यते को नु नरर्षभो युवा॥
Beholding hiin like a king present before him Virata asked the people assembled there "who is this young man seen, the best of men, exceedingly beautiful, and having shoulders as high as those of a lion.
अदृष्टपूर्वः पुरुषो रविर्यथा वितर्कयन् नास्य लभामि निश्चयम्। तथास्य चित्तं ह्यपि संवितर्कयन् नरर्षभस्यास्य न यामि तत्त्वतः॥
This man, not seen before, is like one seen; thinking and thinking over I cannot come to a definite conclusion (who he may be); nor do I, with a serious deliberation, understand the intention of that best of men.
दृष्ट्वैव चैनं तु विचारयाम्यह गन्धर्वराजो यदि वा पुरंदरः। जानीत कोऽयं मम दर्शने स्थितो यदीप्सितं तल्लभतां च मा चिरम्॥
Beholding him I do not deem it worth while to discuss whether he is the king of the Gandharvas or Purandara himself; ascertain who it is standing before my eyes, let him have in no time what he desires.
विराटवाक्येन च तेन चोदिता नरा विराटस्य सुशीघ्रगामिनः। उपेत्य कौन्तेयमथाब्रुवंस्तदा यथा स राजावदताच्युतानुजम्॥
Thus commissioned by the words of Virata, his quick-paced messengers went to the son of Kunti and told that younger brother of Yudhishthira all that the king had said.
स्त्वदीनरूपं वचनं महामनाः। उवाच सूदोऽस्मि नरेन्द्र बल्लवो भजस्व मां व्यढानकारमुत्तमम्॥
Then the high-souled son of Pandu approaching the king Virata spoke in words not poorly on the occasion "O king, I am a cook named Ballava; appoint me, pray, an expert in culinary arts."
विराट उवाच न सूदतां बल्लव श्रद्दधामि ते सहस्रनेत्रप्रतिमो विराजसे। श्रिया च रूपेण च विक्रमेण च प्रभाससे त्वं नृवरो नरेष्विव॥
Virata said I do not believe that cooking is your business, you shine like a thousand-eyed deity amongst men; you seem to be the best in grace, beauty and prowess.
भीम उवाच नरेन्द्र परिचारकोऽस्मि ते जानामि सूपान् प्रथमं च केवलान्। आस्वादिता ये नृपते पुराभवन् युधिष्ठिरेणापि नृपेण सर्वशः॥ सूदः
Bhima said O king, I am your cook and servant; it is not so that I have only the knowledge of curries, although O king, they were always tasted, in days gone by, by the king Yudhishthira.
बलेन तुल्यश्च न विद्यते मया नियुद्धशीलश्च सदैव पार्थिवा गजैश्च सिंहैश्च समेयिवानहं सदा करिष्यामि तवानघ प्रियम्॥
O ruler of the earth, I am also a wrestler, there is no equal to me in strength. O sinless one, I shall always entertain you by fighting with elephants and lions.
विराट उवाच ददामि ते हन्त वरान् महानसे तथा च कुर्याः कुशलं प्रभाषसे। न चैव मन्ये तव कर्म यत् समं समुद्रनेमि पृथिवीं त्वमर्हसि॥
Virata said I grant you the boons; you will take possession of the kitchen in which you say you are skilled. I do not think this office is worthy of you. You deserve the whole earth having seas for its walls, (girt by the seas).
तथा हि कामो भवतस्तथा कृतं महानसे त्वं भव मे पुरस्कृतः। नराश्च ये तत्र समाहिताः पुरा भवांश्च तेषामधिपो मया कृतः॥
I have done what you desire, you are appointed in my kitchen. I place you at the head of those who have been appointed there before by me.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तथा स भीमो विहितो महानसे विराटराज्ञो दयितोऽभवद् दृढम्। उवास राज्ये न च तं पृथग् जनो बुबोध तत्रानुचराश्च केचन॥
Thus appointed in the kitchen Bhima became a great favorite of the king Virata. O king, he began to live there, but neither the servants of Virata nor other people recognized him.