VIRATA KING SURRENDERED HIS KINGDOM TO GAME ENTERTAINER

Susharma captures King Virata and gets rescued 

Here in my post, I will provide an explanation for the amazing war between Virata king of Matshya, and king Susharma of Trigarta. Kauravas heard about Gandharvas killing Kichak and they suspected Pandavas staying inside that kingdom. However, they could not get any proof of it. They knew it was convenient for them to defeat Virata king considering that his commander-in-chief the courageous warrior Kichaka was already dead. Duryodhana discussed with Karna and also took permission from Dronacharya, Kripacharya, and Bhishma for taking over the Matsya kingdom. He asked his brother-in-law Susharma to attack the Matsya kingdom first then the Kauravas along with all their gurus and Karna would join Susharma.

The 13th year of the exile period of Pandavas was about to be over. Susharma attacked all the cows of Virata kingdom. Their guard Gopa informed the king about this. All the Pandavas who were disguised as King's game entertainer, cook, and caretakers requested to be part of the fight. King agreed. King Virata's whole army attacked fiercely the Trigarta armies. The war resembled the battle between Deities and demons. Yudhishthira along with his brothers and King Virata created an array there on the battleground and fought with many Trigartas there heroically. King Virata and King Susharma shot many arrows at each other. Sun was already set down, on the other hand, the fight continued. It was difficult to see anyone's face there. Susharma along with his brother and a few of the charioteers got down from his chariot, attacked Virata, and some of the troopers close by with their maces from all sides, reached near the king and defeated him. Susharma captured the king and took him forcefully on his chariot. Seeing the king being captured, his armies started running away out of fear. Yudhishthira recommended his mighty brother Bhima to rescue the king from Susharma there and also reminded him no longer to reveal his identity.

Bhima stopped Susharma. He killed one lakh soldiers and a few others near Virata king via his mere mace and then he attacked Pandavas and got here close to Trigartas. Yudhishthira killed one thousand, Bhima seven thousand, Nakula seven hundred and Sahadeva killed three hundred Trigartas there. Sahadeva bravely attacked Susharma, Yudhishthira shot many arrows at the Trigarta king there and Bhima killed all his saviours, his horses, and made him lose his chariot. Seeing Susharma in such a situation, the old Virata king confidently attacked Susharma with his mace. Finding no way out Susharma tried to run away from there. Bhima provoked him to battle back and stopped him. Bhima caught him by his hair and kicked him on his head, punched him on his stomach tough and made him unconscious there, and defeated him. He could have killed him there however being the cook of the kind king Virata, Bhima Tied him up and brought him close to Yudhishthira as a servant. Yudhishthira requested him to release Susharma there. Yudhishthira being noble, Freed Susharma from slavery and asked him not to repeat the mistake.

After returning to the kingdom King Virata was very pleased with his Game entertainer Kanka, Cook Ballava, Tantipala, and Granthika. He inaugurated all of them with massive respect and presented them with much wealth, and materials. The king knew with the idea of Kanka on the battleground, the four of them could rescue the king from their enemies. Hence he asked Kanka to become the king of Virata and surrendered his kingdom to the four of them. However being altruistic, Yudhishthira requested the king not to offer his throne to his workers. Then Virata king announced his victory in his whole kingdom.

Ref: Mahabharat book

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