Mahabharata 4.13.2 — Virata Parva, Adhyaya 13, Shloka 2

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 13 — Kīcaka’s Proposition and Draupadī’s Dharmic Refusal

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं मत्स्यस्य नगरे प्रच्छन्ना: कुरुनन्दना: । आराधयन्तो राजानं यदकुर्वत तच्छुणु

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evaṁ Matsyasya nagare pracchannāḥ Kurunandanāḥ | ārādhayanto rājānaṁ yad akurvata tac chṛṇu ||

Translation

毗舍摩波耶那说道：“就这样，在摩蹉国王的都城里，库鲁族的荣光（般度五子）隐姓埋名而居。他们恭敬侍奉、取悦国王；他们所做的一切事——且听我道来。”

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• मत्स्यस्य: of Matsya (kingdom/people)
• मत्स्यस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• नगरे: in the city
• नगरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगर
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• प्रच्छन्नाः: hidden, in disguise
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छन्न
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुरुनन्दनाः: descendants/delighters of the Kurus (Pandavas)
• कुरुनन्दनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुनन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आराधयन्तः: serving, pleasing, attending upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: आराधयत्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यत्: what(ever)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अकुर्वत: they did
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शृणु: hear (listen)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Matsya (kingdom)
• Matsya-nagara (city of Matsya)
• Kurunandanāḥ (Pāṇḍavas)
• Virāṭa (king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharma through disciplined concealment and respectful service: even while hiding their identity, the Pāṇḍavas uphold proper conduct by honoring the host-king and fulfilling duties without arrogance or disruption.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana transitions into describing the Pāṇḍavas’ incognito stay in the Matsya capital during the final year of exile, announcing that he will recount the actions they performed while serving King Virāṭa.