Shloka 18
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
विराटनगरे तात संवत्सरमिमं वयम् । कुर्वन्तस्तस्य कर्माणि विहरिष्याम भारत,भाई अर्जुन! इसलिये इस वर्ष हमलोग राजा विराटके ही नगरमें रहें और उनका कार्यसाधन करते हुए उनके यहाँ विचरण करें
virāṭanagare tāta saṁvatsaram imaṁ vayam | kurvantās tasya karmāṇi viharīṣyāma bhārata ||
Yudhiṣṭhira berkata: “Wahai yang dikasihi, maka sepanjang setahun penuh ini marilah kita tinggal di kota Raja Virāṭa. Dengan berkhidmat dalam pekerjaannya dan melaksanakan tugas-tugasnya, kita akan hidup di sana secara tersembunyi, wahai Bhārata.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent dharma in adversity: choosing lawful, nonviolent means—humble service and restraint—to fulfill a difficult obligation (living incognito for a year) without provoking unnecessary conflict.
At the start of the Virāṭa Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira proposes that the Pāṇḍavas spend the required final year of exile in disguise within King Virāṭa’s city, taking up roles as servants or workers and moving about there without being recognized.