Shloka 2

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं मत्स्यस्य नगरे प्रच्छन्ना: कुरुनन्दना: । आराधयन्तो राजानं यदकुर्वत तच्छुणु,वैशम्पायनजीने कहा--राजन! इस प्रकार मत्स्यदेशकी राजधानीमें गुप्तरूपसे निवास करनेवाले पाण्डवोंने राजा विराटकी सेवा करते हुए जो-जो कार्य किया, वह सुनो

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evaṁ Matsyasya nagare pracchannāḥ Kurunandanāḥ | ārādhayanto rājānaṁ yad akurvata tac chṛṇu ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Thus, in the city of the Matsya king, the delight of the Kuru line (the Pāṇḍavas) lived in concealment. While respectfully serving and pleasing the king, whatever deeds they carried out—listen to that.”

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

मत्स्यस्यof Matsya (kingdom/people)

नगरेin the city

प्रच्छन्नाःhidden, in disguise

कुरुनन्दनाःdescendants/delighters of the Kurus (Pandavas)

आराधयन्तःserving, pleasing, attending upon

राजानम्the king

यत्what(ever)

अकुर्वतthey did

तत्that

शृणुhear (listen)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Matsya (kingdom)

Matsya-nagara (city of Matsya)

Kurunandanāḥ (Pāṇḍavas)

Virāṭa (king)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharma through disciplined concealment and respectful service: even while hiding their identity, the Pāṇḍavas uphold proper conduct by honoring the host-king and fulfilling duties without arrogance or disruption.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana transitions into describing the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in the Matsya capital during the final year of exile, announcing that he will recount the actions they performed while serving King Virāṭa.