"Virata said, 'If this one, indeed, be the Kuru king Yudhishthira the son
of Kunti, which amongst these is his brother Arjuna, and which, the
mighty Bhima. Which of these is Nakula, and which Sahadeva and where is
the celebrated Draupadi? After their defeat at dice, the sons of Pritha
have not been heard of by any one.'
"Arjuna said, 'Even this one, O king, who is called Vallava and is thy
cook, is that Bhima of mighty arms and terrible prowess and furious
impetus. It was he who slew the furious _Rakshasas_ on the mountains of
_Gandhamadana_, and procured for Krishna celestial flowers of great
fragrance. Even he is that _Gandharva_, who slew the Kichaka of wicked
soul and it was he who killed tigers and bears and boars in the inner
apartment of thy palace. He who had been the keeper of thy horse is that
slayer of foes called Nakula, and this one is Sahadeva, the keeper of
thy kine. Both these sons of Madri are great car-warriors, possessed of
great fame and beauty of person. These two bulls of the Bharata race,
attired in handsome robes and decked in excellent ornaments, are a match
for a thousand great car-warriors. And even this lady of eyes like
lotus-petals and slender waist and sweet smiles is Drupada's daughter,
thy wife's _Sairindhri_, for whose sake, O king, the Kichakas were
slain. I am, O king, Arjuna who, it is evident, thou hast heard, is that
son of Pritha, who is Bhima's junior and the senior of the twins! We
have, O king, happily passed in thy abode the period of non-discovery,
like infants in the womb!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "After Arjuna had pointed out those heroes--the
five Pandavas, the son of Virata then spoke of Arjuna's prowess. And
Uttara once again identified the sons of Pritha. And the prince said,
'That one whose complexion is bright like that of pure gold, who is
stout like a full-grown lion, whose nose is so prominent, whose eyes are
large and expansive, and whose face is broad and of coppery hue, is the
king of the Kurus. And behold, that one whose tread is like that of an
infuriate elephant, whose complexion is like that of heated gold, whose
shoulders are broad and expanded, and whose arms are long and thick, is
Vrikodara. And he who stands by his side, that youth of darkish hue, who
is like unto a leader of a herd of elephants, whose shoulders are broad
like those of a lion, whose tread is like that of a mighty elephant, and
whose eyes are large and expansive like lotus-leaves, is Arjuna that
foremost of bowmen. All lo, close to the king, are those foremost of
men, the twins, like unto Vishnu and Indra, and who have no equals, in
the world of men, in beauty, might, and behaviour. And close by them,
behold, standeth Krishna, beautiful as gold, like unto the very
embodiment of light, possessing the complexion of the blue lotus, like
unto a celestial damsel, and resembling the living embodiment of
_Lakshmi_ herself.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Then Virata's son began to describe the prowess
of Arjuna, saying, 'Even this one is he that slew the foe, like unto a
lion devastating a flock of deer. Even he ranged through crowds of
hostile cars, slaying their best of car-warriors. By him was slain a
huge, infuriate elephant by means of a single arrow. Pierced by him,
that huge beast having its flanks adorned with an armour of gold, fell
down piercing the earth with his tusks. By him have the kine been
recovered and the Kauravas vanquished in battle. My ears have been
deafened by the blare of his conch. It was by this hero of fierce deeds
that Bhishma and Drona, along with Duryodhana, were vanquished. That
achievement is his and not mine.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of his, the mighty king of
the Matsyas, considering himself guilty of having offended Yudhishthira,
said unto Uttara in reply, 'I think the time hath come for me to
propitiate the sons of Pandu. And, if thou likest, I shall bestow my
daughter Uttara upon Arjuna.'
"Uttara said, 'Worthy of our adorations and worship and respect, the
time hath come for worshipping the illustrious sons of Pandu who deserve
to be worshipped by us.'
"Virata said, 'When brought under the foe's subjection in battle, it was
Bhimasena that rescued me. My kine also have been recovered by Arjuna.
It is through the might of their arms that we have obtained victory in
battle. Such being the case, all of us, with our counsellors, shall
propitiate Yudhishthira the son of Kunti. Blessed be thou, with all thy
brothers, O bull among the sons of Pandu. If, O king, we have ever said
or done anything in ignorance to offend thee, it behoveth thee to
forgive us. The son of Pandu is virtuous.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Then the high-souled Virata, delighted greatly,
approached king Yudhishthira and made an alliance with him, and offered
him his whole kingdom together with the sceptre and treasury and
metropolis. And addressing all the Pandavas, and especially Dhananjaya,
the mighty king of the Matsyas repeatedly said, 'By good luck it is that
I see you.' And having again and again embraced Yudhishthira and Bhima
and the sons of Madri, and smelt their heads, Virata, that owner of a
large army, was not satiated with gazing at them. And being highly
pleased, he said unto king Yudhishthira, 'By good luck it is that I see
you safe from woods. By good luck it is that ye have accomplished with
difficulty the period of exile, undiscovered by those wicked wights. I
make over my entire kingdom to the sons of Pritha, and what else I have.
Let the sons of Pandu accept these without the slightest hesitation. And
let Dhananjaya, called also Savyasachin, accept the hand of Uttara:
for that best of men is fit to be her lord.' Thus addressed, king
Yudhishthira the just cast a look upon Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha.
And looked at by his brother, Arjuna said unto the Matsya king, 'O
monarch, I accept thy daughter as my daughter-in-law. And alliance of
this kind between the Matsya and the Bharatas is, indeed, desirable.'"