Virata Parva

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


File:Mahabharata02ramauoft 0022 37.jpg
In Book 2 of Mahabharata, the Pandavas agree to spend 13th year of their exile incognito. Virata Parva describes their efforts at living under concealed identities (shown above), traumas and adventures.

Virata Parva, also known as the “Book of Virata”, is the fourth of eighteen books of the Indian Epic Mahabharata.[1] Virata Parva traditionally has 4 parts and 72 chapters.[2][3] The critical edition of Virata Parva has 4 parts and 67 chapters.[4][5]

It discusses the 13th year of exile which the Pandavas must spend incognito to avoid another 12 years of exile in the forest. They do so in the court of Virata.[2] They assume a variety of identities. Yudhishthira assumes the identity of game entertainer to the king and calls himself Kanka, Bhima of a cook Ballava,[6] Arjuna teaches dance and music as eunuch Brihannala and dresses as a woman, Nakula tends horses as Granthika, Sahadeva herds cows as Tantipala, and Draupadi in the name of Malini went as Sairandhri to queen Shudeshna.[1]

Structure and chapters[edit]

This book traditionally has 4 sub-parvas (parts or little books) and 72 adhyayas (sections, chapters).[2][3] The following are the sub-parvas:[7]

1. Pandava Pravesha Parva (Chapters: 1–13)[3]
The Pandavas discuss ways they can each conceal their identity for one year, and thus meet the pledge they made at the time of their exile. While Pandavas have grown up in a princely family, they must now assume non-princely professions to avoid being detected. If they are detected, the terms of their exile pledge would extend the exile by another 12 years. They chose to spend last year exile in King Virata kingdom in disguise. Yudhishthira presents himself to King as courtier, by the name of Kanka, Bhima as cook and wrestler by name Vallaba,[8] Arjuna dresses up in a saree as neuter by the name of Brihannala,[9] Nakula as keeper of horses by name Granthika, Sahadeva as keeper of kine by name Tantipala,[10] and Draupadi as female artisan by name Sairandhri.[11][12] The parva describes Pandavas' life as workers in Virata's kingdom, with king Virata as a famous cow baron.[1] Chapter 13 is sometimes named Samayapalana Parva.[13]
Maid Sairandhri (Draupadi) is humiliated in Virata's court by Kichaka (left) in the last month of the 13th year. Bhima kills Kichaka.
2. Kichaka-vadha Parva (Chapters: 14–24)[14]
Kichaka,[15] the commander of king Virata's forces, sees maid Sairandhri (incognito Draupadi), lusts for her. Kichaka approaches the queen, and inquires about Sairandhri. The queen does not know the true identity of Sairandhri, and arranges a meeting. Sairandhri informs Kichaka that she is married, and his stalking of her is inappropriate and against Dharma. Kichaka offers her release from being a maid and a life of luxury. Sairandhri says it is wrong for him to continue pursuing her. Kichaka gets desperate, desires Sairandhri even more. Queen Shudeshna asks Sairandhri to go get wine for her from Kichaka's house. Sairindhri goes in fear to Kichaka house to get wine. Kichaka meets her there, tries to molest her, Sairandhri pushes him and runs to the court of king Virata. Kichaka chases her, catches and kicks her in the court of Virata in front of the king. Sairandhri (Draupadi) demands justice from the king. Virata and Kanka (Yudhishthira) console Sairandhri, promise due investigation of all facts and then justice. Sairandhri, upset with her humiliation, the delay in justice, scolds both the king and Kanka. The queen learns about the mistreatment of Sairindhri, promises death to Kichaka. Draupadi meets Bhima, describes her humiliation by Kichaka, as well as how frustrated she has been with the 12 years of exile, for suffering the vice of her husband Yudhishthira. Draupadi explains why Kichaka is evil, explains she repeatedly rejected Kichaka, and demands Kichaka's death. Next day, Kichaka again approaches maid Sairandhri, and harasses her. Sairandhri asks him to meet her at a hiding place. Bhima meets Kichaka instead, and kills Kichaka. Friends and family of Kichaka blame maid Sairandhri, for Kichaka's death, catch her and try to burn her to death. Bhima gets upset, attacks and kills all those trying to burn Sairandhri. Draupadi is saved.[3] The story presents the interconnectedness of crime to people related to the victim and the perpetrator, their emotions and how people take sides. Kichaka story from the Mahabharata is one of those that is dramatized in Indian classical dances, such as Kathakali.[16]
3. Go-harana Parva (Chapters: 25–69)[3][17]
File:Uttara Gograhana.jpg
Prince Uttara, with the help of Arjuna, saves the kingdom of Virata by the army of Kuru brothers. He returns to his capital with wealth and cows that were looted from Matsya kingdom. This story is recited in Go-grahana sub-book of Virata Parva.[14]
4. Vaivahika Parva (Chapters: 70–72)[14]
On 3rd day after Virata victory, attired in costly robes Pandavas entered the council-hall of Virata and took their seat on the thrones reserved for Kings. Virata came there for holding his council and beholding his courtiers occupying royal seat, filled with wrath. Arjuna discloses to king Virata that he and his Pandava brothers have been in his kingdom in disguise, over the 13th year of their exile. Virata asks for forgiveness and gives his daughter, princess Uttarā hand to Arjuna's son Abhimanyu.

English translations[edit]

Several translations of the Sanskrit book Virata Parva in English are available. Two translations from 19th century, now in public domain, are those by Kisari Mohan Ganguli[14] and Manmatha Nath Dutt.[3] The translations vary with each translator's interpretations.

J. A. B. van Buitenen completed an annotated edition of Virata Parva, based on critically edited and least corrupted version of Mahabharata known in 1975.[1] Debroy, in 2011, notes that updated critical edition of Virata Parva, with spurious and corrupted text removed, has 4 parts, 67 adhyayas (chapters) and 1,736 shlokas (verses).[18] Debroy's translation of a critical edition of Virata Parva appears in Volume 4 of his series.[19]

Clay Sanskrit Library has published a 15-volume set of the Mahabharata that includes a translation of Virata Parva by Kathleen Garbutt. This translation is modern and uses an old manuscript of the Epic. The translation does not remove verses and chapters now widely believed to be spurious and smuggled into the Epic in 1st or 2nd millennium CE.[20]

Quotations and teachings[edit]

Abhimanyu marries princess Uttarā in Virata Parva. Their story is often displayed in traditional Wayang (puppet, pop and theatre) in the Hindu culture found in Bali and pockets of Java, Indonesia.[21]

Pandava Pravesha Parva, Chapter 4:

A wise man should never contract friendship with the wife of the king nor with other attendants of his, nor with those whom he despises and who are hostile to him.

— Pandava Pravesha Parva, Virata Parva, Mahabharata Book iv.4.19[22]

Pandava Pravesha Parva, Chapter 14:

Tell me, O lady, who is this bewitching girl of fine beauty, endued with the grace of a goddess, and whose she is and where she comes from. She has brought me to subjection by grinding my heart. I think there is no other medicine to heal me, except her.

— Kichaka lusting for Draupadi, Pandava Pravesha Parva, Virata Parva, Mahabharata Book iv.14.8[23]

Kichaka-vadha Parva, Chapter 21:

That wicked-souled Kichaka is war like, proud, outrager of female modesty and engrossed in all objects of pleasure. He steals money from the king. He extorts money from others, even if they cry in woe; he never stays in paths of rectitude nor does he even feel inclined to virtue. He is wicked-souled, of sinful disposition, impudent, villaneous and afflicted by Cupid's shaft. Although I have repeatedly rejected him, he will, I am sure, outrage me, whenever he happens to see me.

— Draupadi explaining her case against Kichaka, Kichaka-badha Parva, Virata Parva, Mahabharata Book iv.21.36-39[24]

Go-harana Parva, Chapter 38:

Uttara said: Let the Kurus take away the profuse riches of the Matsyas as they like; let men and women laugh at me, O Vrihannala. Let the kine go any where, let my city be desolate, let me fear my father, but I shall not enter into battle.
Vrihannala said: To fly is not the practice of the brave; death in battle is preferable to flight in fear.

— Vrihannala (incognito Arjuna) and Prince Uttara fearful of war, Go-harana Parva, Virata Parva, Mahabharata Book iv.38.26-29[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 van Buitenen, J.A.B. (1978) The Mahabharata: Book 4: The Book of the Virata; Book 5: The Book of the Effort. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ganguli, K.M. (1883-1896) "Virata Parva" in The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (12 Volumes). Calcutta
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Dutt, M.N. (1896) The Mahabharata (Volume 4): Virata Parva. Calcutta: Elysium Press
  4. ↑ van Buitenen, J.A.B. (1973) The Mahabharata: Book 1: The Book of the Beginning. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, p 476
  5. ↑ Debroy, B. (2010) The Mahabharata, Volume 1. Gurgaon: Penguin Books India, pp xxiii - xxvi
  6. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 75.
  7. ↑ "Mahābhārata (Table of Contents)". The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  8. ↑ sometimes spelled Ballava,
  9. ↑ sometimes spelled Brihannala, Bŗhannaḑā
  10. ↑ Also spelled Tantripala. Sahadeva claims his family name is Arishtanemi; in some literature he is referred to as Arishtanemi
  11. ↑ J. A. B. van Buitenen (Translator), The Mahabharata, Volume 3, 1978, ISBN 978-0226846651, University of Chicago Press, pages 9-10
  12. ↑ sometimes spelled Shairandhri, Sairaṃdhrỉ
  13. ↑ "The Mahabharata, Book 4: Virata Parva: Samayapalana Parva: Section XIII". www.sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Virata Parva Mahabharata, Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Published by P.C. Roy (1884)
  15. ↑ sometimes spelled Kicaka, See cited J. A. B. van Buitenen source at pages 11-12
  16. ↑ David Boland (2006), The Mahabharata in Kathakali Dance Drama, Global Vision Publishing, ISBN 978-8182201811, pages 105-129
  17. ↑ Monier Williams (1868), Indian Epic Poetry, University of Oxford, Williams & Norgate - London, page 105-107
  18. ↑ Bibek Debroy, The Mahabharata : Volume 3, ISBN 978-0143100157, Penguin Books, page xxiii - xxiv of Introduction
  19. ↑ Bibek Debroy (2011), The Mahabharata, Volume 4, Penguin, ISBN 978-0143100164, Virata Parva
  20. ↑ Kathleen Garbutt, Book IV, The Clay Sanskrit Library, Mahabharata: 15-volume Set, ISBN 978-0-8147-3183-3, New York University Press, Bilingual Edition
  21. ↑ Parto, F. S. (2001), Recent history of Javanese classical dance: A reassessment. Contemporary Theatre Review, 11(1), pages 9-17
  22. ↑ Manmatha Nath Dutt (1896), Virata Parva, The Mahabharata, Elysium Press
  23. ↑ Manmatha Nath Dutt (1896), Virata Parva, The Mahabharata, Elysium Press
  24. ↑ Manmatha Nath Dutt (1896), Virata Parva, The Mahabharata, Elysium Press
  25. ↑ Manmatha Nath Dutt (1896), Virata Parva, The Mahabharata, Elysium Press

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virata_Parva&oldid=320330"