beautiful pawns made of ivory, of blue and yellow and red and white hue,
by throws of black and red dice, I shall entertain the king with his
courtiers and friends. And while I shall continue to thus delight the
king, nobody will succeed in discovering me. And should the monarch ask
me, I shall say, _Formerly I was the bosom friend of Yudhishthira_. I
tell you that it is thus that I shall pass my days (in the city of
Virata). What office wilt thou, O Vrikodara, fill in the city of
Virata?'"


SECTION II

"Bhima said, 'I intend to present myself before the lord of Virata as a
cook bearing the name of Vallava. I am skilled in culinary art, and I
shall prepare curries for the king, and excelling all those skilful
cooks that had hitherto dressed his food I shall gratify the monarch.
And I shall carry mighty loads of wood. And witnessing that mighty feat,
the monarch will be pleased. And, O Bharata, beholding such superhuman
feats of mine, the servants of the royal household will honour me as a
king. And I shall have entire control over all kinds of viands and
drinks. And commanded to subdue powerful elephants and mighty bulls, I
will do as bidden. And if any combatants will fight with me in the
lists, then will I vanquish them, and thereby entertain the monarch. But
I shall not take the life of any of them. I shall only bring them down
in such way that they may not be killed. And on being asked as regards
my antecedent I shall say that--_Formerly I was the wrestler and cook of
Yudhishthira._ Thus shall I, O king, maintain myself.'

"Yudhishthira said, 'And what office will be performed by that mighty
descendant of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that foremost of