'Janamejaya said: While living in disguise in the city of the Matsyas, what did those mighty descendants of the Kuru race do next, O revered Brāhmaṇa?' ।। 4-12-1 ।।
[वै] एवं ते नयवसंस तत्र परच्छन्नाः कुरुनन्दनाः आराधयन्तॊ राजानं यद अकुर्वन्त तच छृणु ।। ४-१२-२ ।।
'Vaiśampāyana said: "Hear, O king, what the Kuru princes did while they lived in disguise in the city of the Matsyas, rendering devoted service to its ruler. Through the grace of the sage Trinavindu and the high-souled lord of justice, the Pāṇḍavas remained unrecognized by others in King Virāṭa's city."' ।। 4-12-2 ।।
'O lord of men, Yudhiṣṭhira, serving as a courtier, made himself pleasing to King Virāṭa, to his sons, and to all the people of the Matsya kingdom.' ।। 4-12-3 ।।
'Skilled in the mysteries of dice, the son of Pāṇḍu would make them play at his will, arranging them in the gaming hall like birds strung together on a thread.' ।। 4-12-4 ।।
'And that tiger among men, Yudhiṣṭhira the Just—unrecognized by the king— quietly distributed among his brothers, in fair measure, the wealth he won from Virāṭa.' ।। 4-12-5 ।।