u 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."

SECTION XI

"Vaisampayana said, 'Next appeared at the gate of the ramparts another
person of enormous size and exquisite beauty decked in the ornaments of
women, and wearing large ear-rings and beautiful conch-bracelets
overlaid with gold. And that mighty-armed individual with long and
abundant hair floating about his neck, resembled an elephant in gait.
And shaking the very earth with his tread, he approached Virata and
stood in his court. And beholding the son of the great Indra, shining
with exquisite lustre and having the gait of a mighty elephant,--that
grinder of foes having his true form concealed in disguise, entering the
council-hall and advancing towards the monarch, the king addressed all
his courtiers, saying, 'Whence doth this person come? I have never heard
of him before.' And when the men present spoke of the newcomer as one
unknown to them, the king wonderingly said, 'Possessed of great
strength, thou art like unto a celestial, and young and of darkish hue,
thou resemblest the leader of a herd of elephants. Wearing
conch-bracelets overlaid with gold, a braid, and ear-rings, thou shinest
yet like one amongst those that riding on chariots wander about equipped
with mail and bow and arrows and decked with garlands and fine hair. I
am old and desirous of relinquishing my burden. Be thou like my son, or
rule thou like myself all the Matsyas. It seemeth to me that such a
person as thou can never be of the neuter sex.'

"Arjuna said, 'I sing, dance, and play on instruments. I am proficient
in dance and skilled in song. O lord of men, assign me unto (the
princess) Uttara. I shall be dancing-master to the royal maiden. As to
how I have come by this form, what will it avail