Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय संवादः — उपप्लव्यगमनाज्ञा
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Command to Proceed to Upaplavya
सहोषितकश्षरितार्थो वयःस्थो मात्स्येयानामधिपो वै विराट: । स वै सपुत्र: पाण्डवार्थे च शश्वद् युधिष्ठिरं भक्त इति श्रुतं मे,मत्स्यदेशके राजा विराट भी अपने पुत्रोंक साथ पाण्डवोंकी सहायताके लिये सदा उद्यत रहते हैं। मैंने सुना है कि वे युधिष्ठिरके बड़े भक्त हैं। कारण यह है कि अज्ञातवासके समय वे युधिष्ठिरके साथ एक वर्ष रहे हैं और युधिष्ठिरके द्वारा उनके गोधनकी रक्षा हुई है। अवस्थामें वृद्ध होनेपर भी वे युद्धमें नौजवान-से जान पड़ते हैं कच्चिन्न पापं कथयन्ति तात ते पाण्डवानां कुरव: सर्व एव । द्रोण: सपुत्रश्न कृपश्च वीरो नास्मासु पापानि वदन्ति कच्चित् तात संजय! कहीं सब कौरव मिलकर पाण्डवोंके किसी दोषकी चर्चा तो नहीं करते हैं? पुत्रसहित द्रोणाचार्य और वीर कृपाचार्य हमलोगोंपर किन््हीं दोषोंका आरोप तो नहीं करते हैं?
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
sahoṣitakaś śarita-artho vayaḥ-stho mātsyeyānām adhipo vai virāṭaḥ |
sa vai sa-putraḥ pāṇḍavārthe ca śaśvad yudhiṣṭhiraṃ bhakta iti śrutaṃ me ||
kaccin na pāpaṃ kathayanti tāta te pāṇḍavānāṃ kuravaḥ sarva eva |
droṇaḥ sa-putraś ca kṛpaś ca vīro nāsmāsu pāpāni vadanti kaccit ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Virāṭa, the lord of the Matsyas, though advanced in years, appears youthful in battle and is a man of proven purpose. Together with his sons he is ever ready to act for the Pāṇḍavas’ cause. I have heard that he is devoted to Yudhiṣṭhira—indeed, during the year of concealment he lived in Yudhiṣṭhira’s company, and through Yudhiṣṭhira his cattle were protected. ‘Dear Sañjaya, do all the Kurus speak of any fault in the Pāṇḍavas? Do Droṇa with his son, and the valiant Kṛpa, impute any wrongdoing to us?’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights ethical politics: alliances grounded in gratitude and proven conduct (Virāṭa’s devotion due to Yudhiṣṭhira’s protection of his wealth), and the importance of guarding one’s moral reputation—leaders anxiously ask whether respected elders (Droṇa, Kṛpa) are attributing ‘pāpa’ (fault) to them.
Vaiśampāyana describes Virāṭa of Matsya as a steadfast supporter of the Pāṇḍavas, devoted to Yudhiṣṭhira because of their shared time during the incognito year and the protection of Virāṭa’s cattle. Then a concerned inquiry is voiced to Sañjaya: whether the Kurus, including Droṇa with his son and Kṛpa, are speaking ill of the Pāṇḍavas or accusing them of wrongdoing.