Vaishampayana said Wearing an excellent dress of a cowherd and learning the dialect of the same, Saladeva also arrived at the city of the king Virata.

Then the king, seeing him standing in the cow pasture in the vicinity of the royal palace, became amazed and sent for him.

The king, seeing that best of men shining in splendour, coming, asked the son of Kuru.

To whom do you belong? Whence are you come and what do you seek? You were not seen by me before, tell me in sooth all about you, O best of men.

Having come to the king, the repressor of foes Sahadeva said with a voice deep as the roar of the clouds, "I am a Vaishya known by the name Arishtanemi, I served as an enumerator of the cows of those best of the Kuru race.

O foremost of men, I do no know where the sons, of Pritha the foremost among men, are; I want to live with you. I can not keep myself without service. I do not like to serve any other king except you.

Virata said You must either be a Brahmana or a Kshatriya, you are as graceful as the lord of the entire earth girt by the sea. Tell me truly, O afflicter of enemies, the offlice of a Vaishya does not become you.

Tell me from the dominion, of what king you are come here, what knowledge of art you are versed with, in what capacity you will remain with us and what your pay will be.

Sahadeva said Of the five sons of Pandu Yudhishthira is the eldest. He had one division of kine the number where of amounts to eight hundred and ten thousand and another ten thousand, and another twenty thousand and so forth. I was employed as an enumerator of cows under them; people used to call me Tantipala.

Nothing is unknown to me about the cows that live within ten Yojanas and whose tale has been taken in reference to their present past and future.

My merits were known to that high-souled one, and the Kuru king Yudhishthira was pleased with me.

I am perfectly aware of the arts by means of which the kine may increase in number within a short time and no disease may come upon them.

O king, I also know the bulls having marks for which they are adored by people and by smelling whose urine even the barren may be fruitful.

Virata said I have a hundred thousand kine of various classes the merits of which have not yet been brought to light. I give you the charge of these beasts with their keepers. Let my beasts be henceforth in your keep.

Vaishampayana said The best of men began to live there happily without being recognized by the king, the lord of men, nor did any one else know him; the king also allowed him a stipend as much as he desired. A