Chapter 34

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman wasoverwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (fromslavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch, tookhis departure. And the Pandavas also replying on the might of their ownarms, and endued with modesty and observant of vows, having slain theirenemies and liberated Susarman, passed that night happily on the field ofbattle. And Virata gratified those mighty warriors, the sons of Kunti,possessed of super-human prowess with wealth and honour. And Virata said,”All these gems of mine are now as much mine as yours. Do ye according toyour pleasure live here happily. And ye smiter of foes in battle, I willbestow on you damsels decked with ornaments, wealth in plenty, and otherthings that ye may like. Delivered from perils today by your prowess, Iam now crowned with victory. Do ye all become the lords of the Matsyas.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘And when the king of the Matsyas had addressedthem thus, those descendants of the Kurus with Yudhishthira at theirhead, joining their hands, severally replied unto him saying, ‘We arewell-pleased with all that thou sayest, O monarch. We, however, have beenmuch gratified that thou hast today been freed from thy foes.’ Thusanswered, that foremost of kings, Virata the lord of the Matsyas, againaddressed Yudhishthira, saying, ‘Come, we will install thee insovereignty of the Matsyas. And we will also bestow on thee things thatare rare on earth and are objects of desire, for thou deservesteverything at our hands. O foremost of Brahmanas of the Vaiyaghra order Iwill bestow on thee gems and kine and gold and rubies and pearls. I bowunto thee. It is owing to thee that I once more behold today my sons andkingdom. Afflicted and threatened as I had been with disaster and danger,it is through thy prowess that I have not succumbed to the foe.’ ThenYudhishthira again addressed the Matsyas, saying, ‘Well-pleased are wewith the delightful words that thou hast spoken. Mayst thou be everhappy, always practising humanity towards all creatures. Let messengersnow, at thy command, speedily repair into the city, in order tocommunicate the glad tidings to our friends, and proclaim thy victory.Hearing these words of him, king Matsya ordered the messengers, saying,”Do ye repair to the city and proclaim my victory in battle. And letdamsels and courtesons, decked in ornaments, come out of the city withevery kind of musical instruments.’ Hearing this command uttered by theking of the Matsyas, the men, laying the mandate on their head, alldeparted with cheerful hearts. And having repaired to the city that verynight, they proclaimed at the hour of sunrise the victory of the kingabout the city-gates.'”