Shloka 7
बृहन्नडाप्रवेशः — Bṛhannadā’s Entry into Virāṭa’s Assembly
विराट उवाच त्वं ब्राह्मणो यदि वा क्षत्रियोडसि समुद्रनेमी श्वररूपवानसि । आचक्ष्व मे तत्त्वममित्रकर्शन न वैश्यकर्म त्वयि विद्यते क्षमम्,विराटने कहा--शत्रुतापन! मुझे तो ऐसा लगता है कि तुम ब्राह्मण अथवा क्षत्रिय हो। समुद्रसे घिरी हुई समूची पृथ्वीके सम्राट्की भाँति तुम्हारा भव्य रूप है; अत: मुझे अपना ठीक-ठीक परिचय दो। यह वैश्य कर्म (गोपालन) तुम्हारे योग्य नहीं है
virāṭa uvāca — tvaṃ brāhmaṇo yadi vā kṣatriyo ’si samudranemīśvararūpavān asi | ācakṣva me tattvam amitrakarśana na vaiśyakarma tvayi vidyate kṣamam ||
Virāṭa said: “Whether you are a brāhmaṇa or a kṣatriya, you appear like a sovereign whose realm is bounded by the ocean—your form is truly regal. Therefore, O subduer of foes, tell me your real identity. This work of a vaiśya—cattle-tending—does not seem fitting for you.”
विराट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic intuition that one’s outward conduct (karma) should align with one’s evident capacity and station (varna/role). Virāṭa reads nobility and martial competence in the stranger’s bearing and therefore doubts the suitability of pastoral vaiśya-work for him, urging truthful self-disclosure.
King Virāṭa addresses a disguised figure serving in his domain and, noticing a majestic, ruler-like presence, suspects he is not truly a cattle-tender. He presses him to reveal his real identity, calling him “subduer of foes” and implying a brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya background.