Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by Yudhishthira Susarman was
overwhelmed with shame and hung down his head. And liberated (from
slavery), he went to king Virata, and having saluted the monarch, took
his departure. And the Pandavas also relying on the might of their own
arms, and endued with modesty and observant of vows, having slain their
enemies and liberated Susarman, passed that night happily on the field
of battle. And Virata gratified those mighty warriors, the sons of
Kunti, possessed of super-human prowess with wealth and honour. And
Virata said, 'All these gems of mine are now as much mine as yours. Do
ye according to your pleasure live here happily. And ye smiter of foes
in battle, I will bestow on you damsels decked with ornaments, wealth in
plenty, and other things that ye may like. Delivered from perils today
by your prowess, I am now crowned with victory. Do ye all become the
lords of the Matsyas.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "And when the king of the Matsyas had addressed
them thus, those descendants of the Kurus with Yudhishthira at their
head, joining their hands, severally replied unto him saying, 'We are
well-pleased with all that thou sayest, O monarch. We, however, have
been much gratified that thou hast today been freed from thy foes.' Thus
answered, that foremost of kings, Virata the lord of the Matsyas, again
addressed Yudhishthira, saying, 'Come, we will install thee in
sovereignty of the Matsyas. And we will also bestow on thee things that
are rare on earth and are objects of desire, for thou deservest
everything at our hands. O foremost of Brahmanas of the _Vaiyaghra_
order I will bestow on thee gems and kine and gold and rubies and
pearls. I bow unto thee. It is owing to thee that I once more behold
today my sons and kingdom. Afflicted and threatened as I had been with
disaster and danger, it is through thy prowess that I have not succumbed
to the foe.' Then Yudhishthira again addressed the Matsyas, saying,
'Well-pleased are we with the delightful words that thou hast spoken.
Mayst thou be ever happy, always practising humanity towards all
creatures. Let messengers now, at thy command, speedily repair into the
city, in order to communicate the glad tidings to our friends, and
proclaim thy victory.' Hearing these words of him, king Matsya ordered
the messengers, saying, 'Do ye repair to the city and proclaim my
victory in battle. And let damsels and courtesans, decked in ornaments,
come out of the city with every kind of musical instruments.' Hearing
this command uttered by the king of the Matsyas, the men, laying the
mandate on their head, all departed with cheerful hearts. And having
repaired to the city that very night, they proclaimed at the hour of
sunrise the victory of the king about the city-gates."