Shloka 18
Ballava (Bhīma) Seeks Employment as Royal Cook in Virāṭa’s Court
वैशम्पायन उवाच (एवं तु राज्ञ: प्रथम: समागमो बभूव मात्स्यस्य युधिष्ठिरस्य च । विराटराजस्य हि तेन संगमो बभूव विष्णोरिव वज्पाणिना ।। वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! इस प्रकार वहाँ राजा युधिष्ठिर तथा मत्स्यनरेशकी प्रथम भेंट हुई। जैसे भगवान् विष्णुका वज्रधारी इन्द्रसे मिलन हुआ हो, उसी प्रकार विराटनरेशका राजा युधिष्ठिरके साथ समागम हुआ। तमासनस्थं प्रियरूपदर्शनं निरीक्षमाणो न ततर्प भूमिप: । सभां च तां प्रज्वलयन् युधिष्ठिर: श्रिया यथा शक्र इव त्रिविष्टपम् ।।) युधिष्ठिरके स्वरूपका दर्शन विराटराजको बहुत प्रिय लगा। जब वे आसनपर बैठ गये, तब राजा विराट उन्हें एकटक निहारने लगे। उनके दर्शनसे वे तृप्त ही नहीं होते थे। जैसे इन्द्र अपनी कान्तिसे स्वर्गकी शोभा बढ़ाते हैं, उसी प्रकार राजा युधिष्ठिर उस सभाको प्रकाशित कर रहे थे। एवं स लब्ध्वा तु वरं समागमं विराटराजेन नरर्षभस्तदा | उवास धीर: परमार्चित: सुखी न चापि वक्िच्चरितं बुबोध तत्,धीर स्वभाववाले नरश्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिर उस समय राजा विराटके साथ इस प्रकार अच्छे ढंगसे मिलकर और उनके द्वारा परम आदर-सत्कार पाकर वहाँ सुखपूर्वक रहने लगे। उनका वह चरित्र किसीको भी मालूम नहीं हुआ
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
evaṃ tu rājñaḥ prathamaḥ samāgamo babhūva mātsyasya yudhiṣṭhirasya ca |
virāṭarājasya hi tena saṅgamo babhūva viṣṇor iva vajrapāṇinā ||
tam āsanasthaṃ priyarūpadarśanaṃ nirīkṣamāṇo na tatārpa bhūmipaḥ |
sabhāṃ ca tāṃ prajvalayan yudhiṣṭhiraḥ śriyā yathā śakra iva triviṣṭapam ||
evaṃ sa labdhvā tu varaṃ samāgamaṃ virāṭarājena nararṣabhas tadā |
uvāsa dhīraḥ paramārcitaḥ sukhī na cāpi kaścid caritaṃ bubodha tat ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus occurred the first meeting between King Yudhiṣṭhira and the ruler of the Matsyas. Virāṭa’s encounter with him was like Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, meeting Viṣṇu. When Yudhiṣṭhira had taken his seat—his appearance pleasing and auspicious—King Virāṭa kept gazing at him and could not feel satisfied by the sight. Yudhiṣṭhira seemed to illumine that royal hall with his splendor, just as Indra adorns and brightens heaven. Having gained this excellent association with King Virāṭa, that best of men, steady by nature, lived there happily, honored with the highest respect; and yet no one came to know his true story (his concealed identity and past).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility and dharma manifest as quiet majesty: Yudhiṣṭhira’s inner virtue (śrī) naturally commands respect without self-advertisement. Even while concealing his identity, he maintains composure and ethical conduct, showing that character—not proclamation—creates authority.
During the Pandavas’ incognito period, Yudhiṣṭhira has his first formal meeting with King Virāṭa of the Matsyas. Virāṭa is captivated by Yudhiṣṭhira’s dignified presence, honors him greatly, and Yudhiṣṭhira lives there comfortably—yet his true identity and history remain undiscovered.