Shloka 7
त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः
The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight
त॑ सभायां महाराजमासीने राष्ट्रवर्धनम् । अपने राष्ट्रकी उन्नति करनेवाले महाराज विराट कुण्डल तथा अंगद (बाजूबन्द)-धारी शूरवीर योद्धाओंसे घिरकर मन्त्रियों तथा महात्मा पाण्डवोंके साथ राजसभामें बैठे थे ।।
tāṁ sabhāyāṁ mahārājam āsīnaṁ rāṣṭravardhanam | kuṇḍalāṅgadadhāribhiḥ śūraiḥ parivṛtaṁ virāṭam mantribhiḥ saha mahātmabhiḥ pāṇḍavaiś ca ||
sa u abravīd upasaṅgamya virāṭaṁ praṇatas tadā | “mahārāja! trigartadeśasya sainikā asmān yuddhe jitvā bhrātṛ-bandhubhiḥ saha tiraskṛtya tava lakṣaśo gāvo hāṅkṛtya nīyante” ||
Di balairung kerajaan, Raja Virāṭa—yang memajukan kesejahteraan negerinya—duduk dikelilingi para kesatria gagah yang mengenakan anting dan gelang lengan, bersama para menteri dan para Pāṇḍava yang berhati luhur. Lalu seorang gembala mendekat, bersujud hormat, dan berkata: “Wahai Raja! Prajurit negeri Trigarta telah mengalahkan kami dalam pertempuran, menghina kami beserta sanak saudara, dan kini menggiring pergi ternak sapi Paduka hingga ratusan ribu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage foregrounds rājadharma: a king’s ethical obligation to protect the wealth and livelihood of his realm—symbolized by cattle—and to respond to aggression and humiliation inflicted upon his people.
In Virāṭa’s royal assembly, a messenger approaches, bows, and reports that the Trigartas have defeated local defenders, insulted them and their kin, and are driving away Virāṭa’s vast herds of cattle—setting up the ensuing response and conflict.