Enter Virata - Sahadeva is Aristanemi
Virata Chapter 10
Intro
Virata parva is the story of the Pandavas thirteenth year in exile from their kingdom.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/virata
As It Rhymes
1.
Vaishampayana said,
Sahadeva dressed for rodeo.
Sahadeva had bow-legs and spoke cowpoke lingo.
2.
King Virata saw Sahadeva in a beautiful pasture pastoral.
Sahadeva’s posture looked so suitably natural.
3.
King Virata was struck by Sahadeva’s silhouette.
The king crept close to behold the human art project.
4.
The king greeted Sahadeva, ‘Ahoy!’
‘Who are you? Where are you from, my boy?’
5-6.
Sahadeva’s voice boomed like thunder.
‘My name is Aristanemi.’
I want to be your employee.’
7.
Virata said,
‘I think you must be a brahman.Â
Or may be a kshatriya.
You are an Ishvara!
Tell me the truth - you are no vaishya.
8.
From what kingdom have you gone?
You look like you were cut from stone.’
9.
Sahadeva said,
‘I worked for Pandu’s son.
I managed a thousand head herd one by one.
10-11.
My friends called me Tantipala.
I watch cattle day or night.
I match bulls with cows when the time is right.
12-13.
Yudhisthira praised my worth.
I know how to raise a herd and graze the earth.
14.
I am protected by the sage who praised my birth.
I tell by the smell of urine when to breed or feed grain or abstain.’
15.
Virata said,
‘I need a good man who can sort cattle.
For predators and thieves, I need a good man in battle.
You’re hired!’Â
16.
Vaishampayana said,
Sahadeva lived as a vaishya in King Virata’s service.
Known as Tantipala Sahadeva came and went in peace.
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana ibid.
[7] According to this framing, in any society there are four paths; religious, commerce, war and labor. The brahman are priests. Vaishyas are in trade or farming. Kshatriyas are warriors. Shudra labor.
Ishvara is a lord.