महाभारतम् — ४.७

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

अथापरो भीमबलः श्रिया ज्वल
न्नुपाययौ सिंहविलासविक्रमः ।
खजं च दर्वीं च करेण धारय
न्नसिं च कालाङ्गमकोशमव्रणम् ॥

M N Dutt Vaishampayana said Then there came another of dreadful strength and of shining beauty, with a gait as pleasant as that of a lion; holding in hand a cooking laddle and a spoon and an unsheathed sword of azure body and without a spot on the blade.

४.७.२

स सूदरूपः परमेण वर्चसा
रविर्यथा लोकमिमं प्रभासयन् ।
सुकृष्णवासा गिरिराजसारवा
न्स मत्स्यराजं समुपेत्य तस्थिवान् ॥

M N Dutt Although in the guise of a cook he endued with the strength of the lord of mountains, and attired in dark garments, reached the king of the Matsya's and stood before him illuming, with his great splendour, all around him like the sun revealing the world.

४.७.३

तं प्रेक्ष्य राजा वरयन्नुपागतं; ततोऽब्रवीज्जानपदान्समागतान् । सिंहोन्नतांसोऽयमतीव रूपवा;न्प्रदृश्यते को नु नरर्षभो युवा ॥

M N Dutt Beholding hiin like a king present before him Virata asked the people assembled there "who is this young man seen, the best of men, exceedingly beautiful, and having shoulders as high as those of a lion.

४.७.४

अदृष्टपूर्वः पुरुषो रविर्यथा
वितर्कयन्नास्य लभामि संपदम् ।
तथास्य चित्तं ह्यपि संवितर्कय
न्नरर्षभस्याद्य न यामि तत्त्वतः ॥

M N Dutt This man, not seen before, is like one seen; thinking and thinking over I cannot come to a definite conclusion (who he may be); nor do I, with a serious deliberation, understand the intention of that best of men.

४.७.५

ततो विराटं समुपेत्य पाण्डवः
सुदीनरूपो वचनं महामनाः ।
उवाच सूदोऽस्मि नरेन्द्र बल्लवो
भजस्व मां व्यञ्जनकारमुत्तमम् ॥

M N Dutt Then the high-souled son of Pandu approaching the king Virata spoke in words not poorly on the occasion "O king, I am a cook named Ballava; appoint me, pray, an expert in culinary arts."

विराट उवाच ।

४.७.६

न सूदतां मानद श्रद्दधामि ते
सहस्रनेत्रप्रतिमो हि दृश्यसे ।
श्रिया च रूपेण च विक्रमेण च
प्रभासि तातानवरो नरेष्विह ॥

M N Dutt Virata said I do not believe that cooking is your business, you shine like a thousand-eyed deity amongst men; you seem to be the best in grace, beauty and prowess.

भीम उवाच ।

४.७.७

नरेन्द्र सूदः परिचारकोऽस्मि ते
जानामि सूपान्प्रथमेन केवलान् ।
आस्वादिता ये नृपते पुराभव
न्युधिष्ठिरेणापि नृपेण सर्वशः ॥

M N Dutt Bhima said O king, I am your cook and servant; it is not so that I have only the knowledge of curries, although O king, they were always tasted, in days gone by, by the king Yudhishthira.

४.७.८

बलेन तुल्यश्च न विद्यते मया
नियुद्धशीलश्च सदैव पार्थिव ।
गजैश्च सिंहैश्च समेयिवानहं
सदा करिष्यामि तवानघ प्रियम् ॥

M N Dutt O ruler of the earth, I am also a wrestler, there is no equal to me in strength. O sinless one, I shall always entertain you by fighting with elephants and lions.

विराट उवाच ।

४.७.९

ददामि ते हन्त वरं महानसे
तथा च कुर्याः कुशलं हि भाषसे ।
न चैव मन्ये तव कर्म तत्समं
समुद्रनेमिं पृथिवीं त्वमर्हसि ॥

M N Dutt Virata said I grant you the boons; you will take possession of the kitchen in which you say you are skilled. I do not think this office is worthy of you. You deserve the whole earth having seas for its walls, (girt by the seas).

४.७.१०

यथा हि कामस्तव तत्तथा कृतं
महानसे त्वं भव मे पुरस्कृतः ।
नराश्च ये तत्र ममोचिताः पुरा
भवस्व तेषामधिपो मया कृतः ॥

M N Dutt I have done what you desire, you are appointed in my kitchen. I place you at the head of those who have been appointed there before by me.

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

४.७.११

तथा स भीमो विहितो महानसे
विराटराज्ञो दयितोऽभवद्दृढम् ।
उवास राजन्न च तं पृथग्जनो
बुबोध तत्रानुचरश्च कश्चन ॥

M N Dutt Thus appointed in the kitchen Bhima became a great favorite of the king Virata. O king, he began to live there, but neither the servants of Virata nor other people recognized him.

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