Shloka 6
Role-Allocation in Virāṭa’s Court: Nakula, Sahadeva, and Draupadī’s Concealment
पाण्डवेन पुरा तात अश्वेष्वधिकृत: पुरा । विराटनगरे छन्नश्षरिष्यामि महीपते,विराटनगरमें जो लोग मुझसे पूछेंगे, उन्हें मैं इस प्रकार उत्तर दूँगा--“तात! पहले पाण्डुनन्दन राजा युधिष्ठिरने मुझे अश्वोंका अध्यक्ष बनाकर रख रखा था।' महीपते! मैं जिस प्रकार वहाँ विहार करूँगा, वह सब मैंने आपको बता दिया। राजा विराटके नगरमें अपनेको छिपाये रखकर ही मैं सर्वत्र विचरूगा
pāṇḍavena purā tāta aśveṣv adhikṛtaḥ purā | virāṭanagare channaś cariṣyāmi mahīpate |
Nakula said: “Dear father, formerly I was appointed by the Pandava (Yudhiṣṭhira) as the officer in charge of horses. O lord of the earth, I shall move about in Virāṭa’s city in disguise. To those in Virāṭanagara who question me, I will reply in this manner: ‘Dear sir, earlier King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Pāṇḍu, had placed me as superintendent of horses.’ Thus, keeping myself concealed in King Virāṭa’s city, I will roam everywhere as I have explained to you.”
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent conduct in adversity: maintaining one’s duty and safety through discretion. Nakula chooses a role aligned with his expertise (horses) and commits to truthful yet strategically framed speech, preserving dharma while avoiding unnecessary risk during concealment.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito period, Nakula explains how he will live in Virāṭa’s city without being recognized. He plans to present himself as a horse-handler, stating that he had previously served King Yudhiṣṭhira as superintendent of horses, and will move about in disguise within Virāṭanagara.