Chapter 67

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having speedily recovered his wealth Virata owning alarge army entered his city with a cheerful heart, accompanied by thefour Pandavas. And having vanquished the Trigartas in battle andrecovered all the kine, that mighty monarch, along with the sons ofPritha, looked resplendent and blazed forth in beauty. And as the braveking, that enhancer of the joys of friends, was seated on his throne, allhis subjects headed by the Brahmanas stood before him. And worshipped bythem, the king of the Matsyas, at the head of his army, saluted theBrahmanas and his subjects in return and dismissed them cheerfully. AndVirata, the king of the Matsyas owning a large army, enquired afterUttara, saying, ‘Where hath Uttara gone?’ And the women and the maidensof the palace and the other females living in the inner apartmentsjoyfully said unto him, ‘Our kine having been seized by the Kurus,Bhuminjaya incensed at this and from excess of bravery hath issued forthalone with only Vrihannala as his second, for vanquishing the six mightycar-warriors, Bhishma the son of Santanu, and Kripa, and Karna, andDuryodhana, and Drona, and Drona’s son who have all come with the Kuruarmy.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then king Virata, hearing that his brave sonhad gone forth with only one car and with Vrihannala as his car-driver,became filled with grief, and addressing his chief counsellors, said,’Without doubt, the Kauravas and other lords of earth, learning thedefeat of the Trigartas, will never keep their ground. Therefore, letthose of my warriors that have not been wounded by the Trigartas go out,accompanied by a mighty force, for the protection of Uttara.’ And sayingthis, the king speedily despatched, for the sake of his son, horses andelephants and cars and a large number of foot-soldiers, equipped anddecked with various kinds of weapons and ornaments. And it was thus thatVirata, the king of the Matsyas, owning a large army, quickly ordered outa large division consisting of four kinds of troops. And having donethis, he said, ‘Learn ye, without loss of time whether the prince livethstill or not! I myself think that he who hath got a person of the neutersex for his car-driver is not alive.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Then king Yudhishthira the just, smilingly saidunto the afflicted king Virata, ‘If, O monarch, Vrihannala hath been hischarioteer, the foe will never be able to take away thy kine today.Protected by that charioteer, thy son will be able to vanquish in battleall the lords of earth allied with the Kurus, indeed, even the gods andthe Asuras and the Siddhas and the Yakshas together.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Meanwhile, the swift-footed messengersdespatched by Uttara, having reached Virata’s city, gave tidings of thevictory. And the minister-in-chief then informed the king of everything,viz., the great victory that had been won, the defeat of the Kurus, andthe expected arrival of Uttara. And he said, ‘All the kine have beenbrought back, the Kurus have been defeated, and Uttara, that slayer offoes, is well with his car-driver.’ Then Yudhishthira said, ‘By good luckit is that the kine have been recovered and the Kurus routed. I do not,however, regard it strange that thy son should have vanquished the Kurus,for his victory is assured that hath Vrihannala for his charioteer.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Hearing of the victory of his son possessed ofimmeasurable might, king Virata became so glad that the bristles of hisbody stood erect. And having made presents of raiments unto themessengers, he ordered his ministers, saying, ‘Let the highways bedecorated with flags, and let all the gods and goddesses be worshippedwith flowery offerings. And let princes and brave warriors, and musiciansand harlots decked in ornaments, march out to receive my son. And let thebellman, speedily riding an intoxicated elephant, proclaim my victory atplaces where four roads meet. And let Uttara, too, in gorgeous attire andsurrounded by virgins and chanters of eulogies, go forth to receive myson.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having listened to these words of the king, allthe citizens with auspicious things in hand, and many amongst them withcymbals and trumpets and conchs, and beautiful women attired in gorgeousrobes, and reciters of auspicious and sacred hymns, accompanied byencomiasts and minstrels, and drummers and other kinds of musiciansissued forth from the city of the mighty Virata to welcome Uttara ofimmeasurable prowess. And having despatched troops and maidens andcourtezens decked in ornaments, the wise king of the Matsyas cheerfullysaid these words, ‘O Sairindhri, fetch the dice. And, O Kanka, let theplay commence.’ The son of Pandu replied, saying, ‘We have heard it saidthat one whose heart is filled with joy should not play with a cunninggambler. I do not therefore, dare gamble with thee that are sotransported with joy. I am ever desirous of doing what is for thy good.Let the play, however, commence if it pleases thee.’

“Virata said, ‘My female slaves and kine, my gold and whatsoever otherwealth I have, nothing of all this shall thou be able to protect todayeven if I do not gamble.’ Kanka said in reply, ‘O monarch, O bestower ofhonours, what business hast thou with gamble which is attended withnumerous evils? Gambling is fraught with many evils; it should,therefore, be shunned. Thou mayst have seen or at least heard ofYudhishthira, the son of Pandu. He lost his extensive and prosperouskingdom and his god-like brothers at dice. For this, I am averse togambling. But if thou likest, O king, I will play.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘While the play was going on, Matsya said untothe son of Pandu, ‘Lo, the Kauravas that are so formidable have beenvanquished in battle by my son.’ Upon this, the illustrious kingYudhishthira said, ‘Why should not he conquer that hath Vrihannala forhis charioteer?’

‘Thus addressed, King Matsya became angry and said unto Pandu’s son,’Thou wretch of a Brahmana, dost thou compare one of the neuter sex withmy son! Hast thou no knowledge of what is proper and what improper forone to say? Without doubt, thou disregardest me. Why should not my sonvanquish all those with Bhishma and Drona as their leaders? O Brahmana,for friendship only I pardon thee this thy offence. Thou must not,however, say so again if thou wishest to live.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘There where Bhishma and Drona and Drona’s son andthe son of Vikartana and Kripa and king Duryodhana and other royal andmighty car-warriors are assembled or there where Indra himself issurrounded by the Maruts, what other person than Vrihannala can fight,encountering them all! None hath been, none will be, his equal instrength of arms! Indeed, it is Vrihannala only whose heart is filledwith joy at sight of a terrible conflict. It is he who had vanquished thecelestials and the Asuras and human beings fighting together. With such aone for his ally, why should not thy son conquer the foe? Virata said,’Repeatedly forbidden by me, thou dost not yet restrain thy tongue. Ifthere is none to punish, no one would practise virtue.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Saying this, the king inflamed with angerforcibly struck Yudhishthira in the face with a dice, and reproached himangrily, saying, ‘Let it not occur again! And having been violentlystruck, blood began to flow from his nose. But the son of Pritha held itin his hands before it fell on the ground. And the virtuous Yudhishthirathen glanced at Draupadi who was standing by his side. Ever obedient tothe wishes of her lord, the faultless Draupadi, understanding hismeaning, and bringing a golden vessel filled with water, received theblood that flowed from his nose. Meanwhile; Uttara, entertained withsweet perfumes of diverse kinds and decked with floral chaplets, slowlyentered the city, received with respect by the citizens, the women, andthe people of the provinces. And approaching the gate of the palace hesent the news of his arrival to his father. And the porter then,approaching the king, said, ‘Thy son Uttara, waiteth at the gate withVrihannala as his companion.’ And the Matsya king, with a cheerful heart,said unto him, ‘Do thou usher both, as I am very anxious to see them.’Then Yudhishthira, the king of t e Kurus, gently whispered unto the earsof the warder, ‘Let Uttara enter alone; Vrihannala must not come in. Suchis the vow of that hero of mighty arms that whoever causeth a wound on myperson or sheddeth my blood except in battle, shall not live. Inflamedwith rage he will never bear patiently to see me bleeding, but will slayVirata even now with his counsellors and troops and steeds.'”