Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 4.11
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4.11.1
अथापरोऽदृश्यत वर्णवान्युवा स्त्रीवेषधारी समलंकृतो भृशम् ।
प्रवालचित्रे प्रविमुच्य कुण्डले उभे च कम्बू परिपातुके तथा ॥ ४.११.१ ॥
Then another appeared, a radiant young man dressed as a woman and richly adorned. He had taken off the two coral-coloured earrings, the conch bracelets and the wrist ornaments.
4.11.2
कृष्णे च रक्ते च निबध्य वाससी शरीरवाञ्शुक्रबृहस्पतिप्रभः ।
बहूंश्च दीर्घांश्च विकीर्य मूर्धजान्महाभुजो मत्तगजेन्द्रविक्रमः ॥ ४.११.२ ॥
Wearing black and red garments, radiant like Śukra and Bṛhaspati, embodied, with many long locks of hair scattered loose, mighty-armed, with the valour of a maddened great elephant.
4.11.3
क्लैब्येन वेषेण न भति भाति च ग्रहाभिपन्नो नभसीव चन्द्रमाः ।
गतेन चोर्वी परिकम्पयंस्तदा विराटमासाद्य सभासमीपतः ॥ ४.११.३ ॥
In eunuch's dress he did not shine, yet he shone, like the moon seized by a planet in the sky. Making the earth tremble with his gait, he then approached Virāṭa near the assembly hall.
4.11.4
तं प्रेक्ष्य राजोपगतं सभातले व्याजाप्रतिच्छन्नममित्रमर्दनम् ।
विराजमानं सुरराजवर्चसं सुतं सुरेन्द्रस्य गजेन्द्रविक्रमम् ॥ ४.११.४ ॥
Seeing him approach the king on the floor of the hall, not concealed by any pretext, crusher of enemies, shining with the splendour of the king of the gods, like the son of Indra, with the valour of a great elephant.
4.11.5
सर्वानपृच्छच्च समीपचारिणः कुतोऽयमायाति न मे पुरा श्रुतः ।
न चैनमूचुर्विदितं नरास्तदा सविस्मयं वाक्यमिदं नृपोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ४.११.५ ॥
He asked all those who were nearby: 'From where has this one come? I have not heard of him before.' The men there, though they knew him, said nothing to him; then the king spoke these words in wonder.
4.11.6
गजेन्द्रलीलो मृगराजगामी वृषेक्षणो देवसुतोग्रतेजाः ।
पीनांसबाहुः कनकावदातः कोऽयं नरो मे नगरं प्रविष्टः ॥ ४.११.६ ॥
With the stately gait of an elephant, the walk of a lion, bull-like eyes, the fierce splendour of a god's son, thick shoulders and arms, gleaming like gold — who is this man who has entered my city?
4.11.7
किमेष देवेन्द्रसुतः किमेष ब्रह्मात्मजो वा किमयं स्वयंभूः ।
उमासुतो वैश्रवणात्मजो वा प्रेक्ष्यैनमासीदिति मे वितर्कः ॥ ४.११.७ ॥
Is this the son of Indra, lord of the gods, or the son of Brahmā, or is he the Self-existent one? Is he the son of Umā, or the son of Vaiśravaṇa? Seeing him, such is my conjecture.
4.11.8
सभामतिक्रम्य स वासवोपमो निरीक्षमाणो बहुभिः सभागतैः ।
स तत्र राजनममित्रहाऽब्रवीद्बृहन्नलाहं नरदेव नर्तकी ॥ ४.११.८ ॥
Crossing the assembly hall, he — like Indra — looking around at the many who had gathered in the assembly, spoke there to the king, slayer of enemies: "O lord of men, I am Bṛhannalā, a dancer."
4.11.9
वेणीं प्रकुर्यां रुचिरे च कुण्डले ग्रथे स्रजः प्रावरणानि संहरे ।
स्नानं चरेयं विमृजे च दर्पणं विशेषकेष्वेव च कौशलं मम ॥ ४.११.९ ॥
I can braid lovely hair, fit on fine earrings, string garlands, arrange garments, perform bathing, polish a mirror; and in the decorative marks I am skilled.
4.11.10
क्लीबेषु बालेषु जनेषु नर्तने शिक्षाप्रदानेषु च योग्यता मम ।
करोमि वेणीषु च पुष्पपूरकं न मे स्त्रियः कर्मणि कौशलाधिकाः ॥ ४.११.१० ॥
In teaching dance and giving instruction to eunuchs, children and other people, I am qualified. I fill braids with flowers; women are no more skilled in their work than I am.
4.11.11
इत्यर्जुनस्तं नरदेवमोजसा विज्ञाप्य तस्थौ विधिनाऽऽत्मनः क्रियाम् ।
तमब्रवीत्प्रांशुमुदीक्ष्य विस्मितो विराटराजोपसृतं महायशाः ॥ ४.११.११ ॥
Thus Arjuna, with vigour, made himself known to that king of men, and having accepted the task in due form, stood there. Seeing the tall one who had come near to King Virāṭa, the greatly famed king, astonished, spoke to him.
4.11.12
नार्हस्तु वेषोऽयमनूर्जितस्ते नापुंस्त्वमर्हं नरदेवसिंह ।
तवैव वेषः शुभवेषभूषणैर्विभूषितो भूतपतेरिव प्रभो ॥ ४.११.१२ ॥
This dress is not unsuited to you, and your unmanliness is not fitting, O lion among kings of men. O lord, your dress is adorned with fine garments and ornaments, like the lord of beings.
4.11.13
विभाति भानोरिव रश्मिमालिनो घनावरुद्धे गगने घनैरिव ।
धनुर्हि मन्ये तव शोभयेद्भुजौ तथाहि पीनावतिमात्रमायतौ ॥ ४.११.१३ ॥
You shine like the sun garlanded with rays, or like clouds in a sky covered with clouds. I think a bow will adorn your arms, for your arms are very stout and long.
4.11.14
प्रगृह्य चापं त्वनुरूपमात्मनो रक्षस्व देशं पुरमद्य सुस्थिरः ।
पुत्रेण तुल्यो भव मे बृहन्नले वृद्धोस्मि वित्तं प्रतिपादयामि ते ॥ ४.११.१४ ॥
Take up your bow, and guard this city and realm today, steadfast, with weapons fitting for you. O Bṛhannalā, be like my son; I am old, and I will bestow wealth upon you.
4.11.15
त्वं रक्ष मे सर्वमिदं पुरं प्रभो न षण्डतां कांचन लक्षयामि ते ।
प्रशाधि मत्स्यांस्तरसा विवर्धयन्ददामि राज्यं तव सत्यवागहम् ॥ ४.११.१५ ॥
O lord, you protect all this city of mine; I see no unmanliness in you at all. Rule the Matsyas and make them flourish with strength. I am truthful; I will give you the kingdom.
4.11.16
तस्याग्रतः स्वानि धनूंषि पार्थिवो बहूनि दीर्घाणि च वर्णवन्ति च ।
ददौ स सज्यानि बलान्वितानि जिज्ञासमानः किमयं करिष्यति ॥ ४.११.१६ ॥
Before him the king set down his many long, colorfully adorned bows, strung and powerful, wishing to learn what he would do.
4.11.17
ततोऽर्जुनः क्लीबतरं वचोऽब्रवीन्न मे धनुर्धारितमीदृशं विभो ।
न चापि दृष्टं धनुरीदृशं क्वचिन्न मादृशाः सन्ति धनुर्धरा भुवि ॥ ४.११.१७ ॥
Then Arjuna spoke very humble words: "Lord, I have never held such a bow, nor have I ever seen such a bow anywhere; there are no archers on earth like me."
4.11.18
नृत्याम गायामि च वादयाम्यहं प्रानर्तने कौशलनैपुणं मम ।
तदुत्तरायाः परिधत्स्व नर्तने भवामि देव्या नरदेव नर्तकी ॥ ४.११.१८ ॥
I dance, I sing, and I play instruments; I have skill and expertise in dancing. So, O lord of men, let me take up the dance-teaching of Uttarā, and I shall be the queen's dancer.
4.11.19
ददामि ते तं हि वरं बृहन्नले सुतां हि मे नर्तय याश्च तादृशीः ।
ततो विराटः स्वयमाह्वयत्सुतां नराधिपस्तां च सुमध्यसुन्दरीम् ॥ ४.११.१९ ॥
I grant you that boon, O Bṛhannalā: teach dance to my daughter and to such others. Then King Virāṭa himself summoned his daughter, that slender-waisted beauty.
4.11.20
उवाच चैनां मुदितेन चेतसा बृहन्नला नाम सखी भवत्वियम् ।
सुगात्रि संप्रीतिसुबद्धसौहृदा तवाङ्गने प्राणसमा च नित्यदा ॥ ४.११.२० ॥
And with a gladdened heart he said to her: "Fair-limbed one, let this Bṛhannalā be your friend, bound firmly by mutual affection and goodwill, O maiden, and dear to you always as your own life."
4.11.21
प्रकामभक्ष्याभरणाम्बरा शुभा चरत्वियं सर्वजनेष्ववारिता ।
न दुष्कुलानामियमाकृतिर्भवेन्न वृत्तभेदी भवतीदृशो जनः ॥ ४.११.२१ ॥
Let this fair one move freely among all people, with food, ornaments and garments as she desires. Her bearing cannot belong to those of low family; a person such as this does not break conduct.
4.11.22
संमन्त्र्य राजा विविधैः स्वमन्त्रिभिः परीक्ष्य चैनं प्रमदाभिराशु वै ।
अपुंस्त्वमप्यस्य निशम्य च स्थिरं ततः कुमारीपुरमुत्ससर्ज तम् ॥ ४.११.२२ ॥
The king, having consulted his various ministers and having quickly had him tested by women, and having firmly heard that he was not impotent, then sent him away to the inner quarters of the maidens.
4.11.23
स शिक्षयामास च गीतवदनं सुतां विराटस्य धनंजयः प्रभुः ।
सखीश्च तस्याः परिचारिकास्तथा प्रियश्च तस्याः स बभूव पाण्डवः ॥ ४.११.२३ ॥
The mighty Dhanaṃjaya taught song and dance to the daughter of Virāṭa, and that Pāṇḍava became dear to her companions and attendants as well.
4.11.24
तथा स तत्रैव धनंजयोऽवसत्प्रियाणि कुर्वन्त्सह ताभिरात्मवान् ।
तथा गतं तत्र न जझिरे जना बहिश्चरा वाऽप्यथवेतरे जनाः ॥ ४.११.२४ ॥
Thus Dhanaṃjaya dwelt there, doing pleasing things with them, self-controlled; and his being there in this way was not known to the people who move outside, nor to others.