“Vaisampayana said, ’Then clad in a cowherd’s
dress, and speaking the dialect of cowherds, Sahadeva
came to the cowpen of Virata’s city. And
beholding that bull among men, who was shining in splendour,
the king was struck with amazement. And he directed
his men to summon Sahadeva. And when the latter
came, the king addressed him, saying, ’To whom
dost thou belong? And whence dost thou come?
And what work dost thou seek? I have never seen
thee before. O bull among men, tell me truly about
thee.’
“Having come before the king that afflicter
of foes, Sahadeva answered in accents deep as the
roar of the cloud, ’I am a Vaisya, Arishtanemi
by name. I was employed as a cowherd in the service
of those bulls of the Kuru race, the sons of Pandu.
O foremost of men, I intend now to live beside thee,
for I do not know where those lions among kings, the
sons of Pritha, are. I cannot live without service,
and, O king, I do not like to enter into the service
of anyone else save thee.’
“Hearing these words, Virata said, ’Thou
must either be a Brahmana or a Kshatriya. Thou
lookest as if thou wert the lord of the entire earth
surrounded by the sea. Tell me truly, O thou that
mowest down thy foes. The office of a Vaisya
is not fit for thee. Tell me from the dominions
of what king thou comest, and what thou knowest, and
in what capacity thou wouldst remain with us, and
also what pay thou wouldst accept.’
“Sahadeva answered, ’Yudhishthira, the
eldest of the five sons of Pandu, had one division
of kine numbering eight hundred and ten thousand, and
another, ten thousand, and another, again, twenty thousand,
and so on. I was employed in keeping those cattle.
People used to call me Tantripala. I know the
present, the past, and the future of all kine living
within ten Yojanas, and whose tale has
been taken. My merits were known to that illustrious
one, and the Kuru king Yudhishthira was well-pleased
with me. I am also acquainted with the means which
aid kine in multiplying within a short time, and by
which they may enjoy immunity from disease. Also
these arts are known to me. I can also single
out bulls having auspicious marks for which they are
worshipped by men, and by smelling whose urine, the
barren may conceive.’
“Virata said, ’I have a hundred thousand
kine divided into distinct herds. All those together
with their keepers, I place in thy charge. Henceforth
my beasts will be in thy keep.’”
Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O king, undiscovered
by that monarch, that lord of men, Sahadeva, maintained
by Virata, began to live happily. Nor did anyone
else (besides his brothers) recognise him.”
