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STORIES · THE MAHĀBHĀRATA · Virāṭa

The Pāṇḍavas Go Incognito: Arrival at Virāṭa's Court

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The terms of the dice game were twelve years in the forest and a thirteenth year in hiding; if they were found, the exile would begin again. The Pāṇḍavas chose the kingdom of Virāṭa, ruler of the Matsyas. Before they entered the city, Yudhiṣṭhira asked each of them what work they would take. Nakula said he would be Granthika, keeper of Virāṭa's horses, who knew how to calm colts and mares. Sahadeva would be Tantipāla, tending the cattle: he could milk, judge animals and quiet the fierce ones. Both said they would tell people they had once served Yudhiṣṭhira.

Yudhiṣṭhira then turned to his wife, anxious. She had known garlands, perfumes and fine robes all her life; what work could she do? Draupadī had already decided. She would be a sairandhrī, a skilled hairdresser and maid who works in other people's houses, and she would say she had been Draupadī's own maid. She would serve Queen Sudeṣṇā. Yudhiṣṭhira approved but warned her to behave carefully so that wicked men would not be tempted. On the way to the city Yudhiṣṭhira silently praised Durgā. The hymn of Section VI calls her the supreme goddess, born to Yaśodā, who grants prosperity and rescues those sunk in sin. The goddess appeared and promised that he would defeat the Kauravas and rule the earth, and that the spies of the Kurus and the Matsyas would not recognise the Pāṇḍavas during their stay. Then she vanished.

One by one they entered Virāṭa's court. Bhīma came as a cook, carrying a ladle and spoon and a dark sword, walking like a lion. Virāṭa could not believe such a man was a cook, but Bhīma said his name was Vallava and added that he was also a wrestler who could fight lions and elephants for the court's entertainment. He was made head of the kitchen. Draupadī, her hair in a single braid and wearing one worn dark garment, wandered the streets as a sairandhrī. Queen Sudeṣṇā saw her from the terrace and, struck by her beauty, asked if she were a goddess.

Draupadī said she was a maid called Mālinī, who had served Satyabhāmā and Draupadī. She added that her five husbands were Gandharvas who guarded her unseen and would kill any man who tried to take her, and that she would not eat food left by others or wash anyone's feet. Sudeṣṇā, worried that the king would be infatuated, agreed to take her. Arjuna came next, in women's ornaments with long hair, calling himself Bṛhannaḍā, and asked to teach dance to Princess Uttarā. After women examined him and reported that he was permanently so, Virāṭa sent him to the women's quarters. Nakula arrived as Granthika. Yudhiṣṭhira entered as Kaṅka, a courtier skilled at dice, and the whole family was settled without being recognised.

Told by Vaiśampāyana → Janamejaya

Who: Yudhiṣṭhira (Kaṅka), Bhīma (Vallava), Arjuna (Bṛhannaḍā), Nakula (Granthika), Sahadeva (Tantipāla), Draupadī (Sairandhrī/Mālinī), Virāṭa, Sudeṣṇā

Bound to

Arjuna's Urvashi curse becomes his Virata disguise origin

Urvashi's curse that became a disguise origin

The Shami tree: weapons hidden as a corpse origin

Jayadratha Abducts Draupadī origin

Kīcaka and Draupadī: Bhīma Kills Kīcaka origin

Places: Virāṭanagara (Matsya)

Where this comes from

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