Shloka 14
Ballava (Bhīma) Seeks Employment as Royal Cook in Virāṭa’s Court
युधिछिर उवाच प्राप्तो विवाद: प्रथमं विशाम्पते न विद्यते कं च न मत्स्य हीनतः । न मे जितः कश्नन धारयेद् धनं वरो ममैषो<स्तु तव प्रसादज:,युधिष्ठिरने कहा--मत्स्यराज! नरनाथ! मुझे किसी हीन वर्णके मनुष्यसे विवाद न करना पड़े, यह मैं पहला वर माँगता हूँ तथा मुझसे पराजित होनेवाला कोई भी मनुष्य हारे हुए धनको अपने पास न रखे (मुझे दे दे)। आपकी कृपासे यह दूसरा वर मुझे प्राप्त हो जाय, तो मैं रह सकता हूँ
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: prāpto vivādaḥ prathamaṃ viśāmpate na vidyate kaṃ ca na matsya-hīnataḥ | na me jitaḥ kaścana dhārayet dhanaṃ varo mamaiṣo 'stu tava prasādajaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira disse: “Ó senhor do povo, ó rei de Matsya! Primeiro, peço este favor: que não aconteça de eu ter de entrar em disputa com alguém de condição inferior em teu reino. E, em segundo lugar, que ninguém a quem eu vença conserve a riqueza assim ganha; que o penhor seja entregue como é devido. Se, por tua graça, esses favores me forem concedidos, então poderei permanecer aqui.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights restraint and social-ethical order: Yudhiṣṭhira seeks to avoid degrading conflict with those of lower standing and insists on fairness in contests—what is won should be properly surrendered—reflecting a concern for dharma, decorum, and orderly governance.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses the king of Matsya and requests boons that regulate conduct in the king’s realm: he asks that he not be forced into disputes with socially inferior persons and that anyone he defeats must hand over the forfeited wealth, enabling him to remain under the king’s protection without disorder.