Shloka 2
त्रिगर्त-मात्स्य-संग्रामः
The Trigarta–Matsya Engagement at Twilight
व्यतीत: समय: सम्यग वसतां वै पुरोत्तमे । कुर्वतां तस्य कर्माणि विराटस्य महीपते:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--महाराज! उन दिनों छठद्मवेषमें छिपकर उस श्रेष्ठ नगरमें रहते और महाराज विराटके कार्य सम्पादन करते हुए अतुलित तेजस्वी महात्मा पाण्डवोंका तेरहवाँ वर्ष भलीभाँति बीत चुका था
vyatītaḥ samayaḥ samyag vasatāṃ vai purottame | kurvatāṃ tasya karmāṇi virāṭasya mahīpateḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, tempoh yang ditetapkan telah genap sepenuhnya bagi mereka yang tinggal di kota yang unggul itu, sambil melaksanakan kewajipan dan urusan Raja Virāṭa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma through disciplined observance of an appointed term (samaya) and faithful performance of one’s entrusted duties (karmāṇi) under a king—showing that righteous conduct includes honoring time-bound vows and serving responsibly even in constrained circumstances.
The narrator states that the required period has successfully elapsed while the protagonists lived in an excellent city and carried out King Virāṭa’s tasks—marking the completion of their time of concealed residence and service in Virāṭa’s realm.