तस्य ते शम एवास्तु पाण्डवैर्भरतर्षभ। कुरु मे वचनं राजन्मा मृत्युवशमन्वगाः
Therefore, let there be peace with the Pandavas, O bull among the Bharatas; heed my words, king, and do not fall under the sway of death.
एवं तु ब्रुवतस्तस्य मैत्रेयस्य विशांपते। ऊरुं करिकराकारं करेणाभिजघान तः
As Maitreya was thus speaking, O lord of men, Duryodhana struck his own thigh, shaped like an elephant's trunk, with his hand.
दुर्योधनः स्मितं कृत्वा चरणेनोल्लिखन्महीम्। नकिंचिदुक्त्वा दुर्मेधास्तस्थौ किंचिदवाङ्मुखः
Duryodhana, with a smile, scratched the ground with his foot, and without saying anything, that ill-minded one stood there, his face turned slightly downward.
तमशुश्रूषमाणं तु विलिखन्तं वसुंधराम्। दृष्ट्वा दुर्योधनं राजन्मैत्रेयं कोप आविशत्
Seeing Duryodhana, who was listening but scratching the earth, the sage Maitreya, O king, was filled with anger.
स कोपवशमापन्नो मैत्रेयो मुनिसत्तमः। विधिना संप्रयुक्तश्च शापायास्य मनो दधे
Overcome by anger, the great sage Maitreya, impelled by destiny, set his mind on cursing him.
ततः स वार्युपस्पृश्य कोपसंरक्तलोचनः। मैत्रेयो धार्तराष्ट्रं तमशपद्दुष्टचेतसम्
Then, having touched water and with eyes reddened by wrath, Maitreya cursed that evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.
यस्मात्त्वं मामनादृत्य नेमां वाचं चिकीर्षसि। तस्मादस्यातिमानस्य सद्यः फलमवाप्स्यसि
Because you disregard me and do not heed this counsel, you will soon reap the immediate fruit of your arrogance.
त्वदभिद्रोहसंयुक्तं युद्धमुत्पत्स्यते महत्। यत्र भीमो गदाघातैस्तवोरुं भेत्स्यते बली
A great war, born of your hostility, will arise, in which Bhima, with blows of his mace, will shatter your thigh, O mighty one.
इत्येवमुक्ते वचने धृतराष्ट्रो महीपतिः। प्रसादयामास मुनिं नैतदेवं भवेदिति
When these words were spoken, King Dhritarashtra sought to appease the sage, saying, 'Let it not be so.'
शमं यास्यति चेत्पुत्रस्तव राजन्यदा तदा। शायो न भविता तात विपरीते भविष्यति
If your son seeks peace, O king, then this curse will not take effect; but if he acts otherwise, it will surely come to pass.
सविलक्षस्तु राजेन्द्रो दुर्योधनपिता तदा। मैत्रेयं प्राह किर्मीरः कथं भीमेन पातितः
Then the king, Duryodhana's father, abashed, asked Maitreya, 'How was Kirmira slain by Bhima?'
नाहं वक्ष्याम्यसूया ते न ते शुश्रूषते सुतः। एष ते विदुरः सर्वमाख्यास्यति गते मयि
I will not tell you, for you bear me ill-will and your son does not listen; Vidura will recount everything to you after I am gone.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा मैत्रेयः प्रातिष्ठत यथागतम्। किर्मीरवधसंविग्नो भयं दुर्योधनो ययौ
Having spoken thus, Maitreya departed as he had come; disturbed by the killing of Kirmira, Duryodhana was seized by fear.
किर्मीरस्य वधं क्षत्तः श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम्। रक्षसा भीमसेनस्य कथमासीत्समागमः
O Kshatta, I wish to hear of the slaying of Kirmira; tell me how Bhimasena encountered the rakshasa.
शृणु भीमस्य कर्मेदमतिमानषकर्मणः। श्रुतपूर्वं मया तेषां कथान्तेषु पुनः पुनः
Hear now of this deed of Bhima, a feat of surpassing pride and valor, which I have heard recounted again and again at the end of tales.
इतः प्रयाता राजेन्द्र पाण्डवा द्यूतनिर्जिताः। जग्मुस्त्रिभिरहोरात्रैः काम्यकं नाम तद्वनम्
From there, O king, the Pandavas, defeated at dice, departed and in three days and nights reached the forest called Kamyaka.
रात्रौ निशीथे त्वाभीले गतेऽर्धसमये नृप। प्रचारे पुरुषादानां रक्षसां घोरकर्मणाम्
At midnight, when the night was deep and half spent, O king, the man-eating Rakshasas, dreadful in their deeds, began to roam about.
तद्वनं तापसा नित्यमशेषा वनचारिणः। दूरात्परिहरन्ति स्म पुरुषादभयात्किल
Because of fear of these man-eaters, all the ascetics who dwelled in that forest, and all the forest-dwellers, would always avoid it from afar.
तेषां प्रविशतां तत्र मार्गमावृत्य भारत। दीप्ताक्षं भीषणं रक्षः मोल्मुकं प्रत्यपद्यत
As they entered there, O Bharata, a fearsome Rakshasa with blazing eyes, named Kirmira, blocked their path.
बाहू महान्तौ कृत्वा च तथास्यं च भयानकम्। स्थितमावृत्यपन्थानं येन यान्ति कुरूद्वहाः
He made his arms enormous, and his face terrifying, standing there and blocking the road by which the Kuru heroes were traveling.
दष्टोष्ठदंष्ट्रं ताम्राक्षं प्रदीप्तोर्ध्वशिरोरुहम्। सार्करश्मितडिच्चक्रं सबलाकमिवाम्बुदम्
With bitten lips and fangs, coppery eyes, hair standing up like flames, his mouth wide as a thundercloud streaked with lightning and filled with cranes.
सृजन्तं राक्षसीं मायां महानादनिनादितम्। मुञ्चन्तं विपुलान्नादान्सतोयमिव तोयदम्
He unleashed Rakshasa magic, roaring loudly, sending forth great cries like a raincloud pouring down water.
तस्य नादेन संत्रस्ताः पक्षिणः सर्वतोदिशम्। विमुक्तनादाः संपेतुः स्थलजा जलजैः सह
Frightened by his roar, birds from every direction, both land and water dwellers, scattered in all directions, falling silent.
संप्रद्रुतमृगद्वीपिमहिषर्क्षसमाकुलम्। तद्वनं तस्य नादेन संप्रस्थितमिवाभवत्
The forest, filled with fleeing deer, wild beasts, buffalo, and bears, seemed to be set in motion by his roar.
तस्योरुवाताभिहतास्ताम्रपल्लवबाहवः। विदूरजाताश्च लताः समाश्लिष्यन्ति पादपान्
Struck by his mighty breath, the trees with coppery leaves bent, and distant vines clung tightly to the trunks.
तस्मिन्क्षणेऽथ प्रववौ मारुतो भृशदारुणः। रजसा संवृतं तेन नष्टर्क्षमभवन्नभः
At that moment, a fierce and violent wind began to blow, and the sky, covered with dust, lost all its stars.
पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणामविज्ञातो महारिपुः। पञ्चानामिन्द्रियाणां तु शोकावेश इवातुलः
Unrecognized by the five sons of Pandu, the great enemy stood there, like overwhelming grief unknown to the five senses.
स दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवान्दूरात्कृष्णाजिनसमावृतान्। आवृणोत्तद्वनद्वारं मैनाक इव पर्वतः
Seeing the Pandavas from afar, clad in black antelope skins, he blocked the entrance to the forest like the mountain Mainaka.
तं समासाद्य वित्रस्ता कृष्णा कमललोचना। अदृष्टपूर्वं संत्रासान्न्यमीलयत लोचने
Approaching him, Krishna of lotus eyes, terrified and never having seen such a sight before, closed her eyes in fear.
दुःशासनकरोत्सृष्टविप्रकीर्णशिरोरुहा। पञ्चपर्वतमध्यस्था नदीवाकुलतां गता
Her hair disheveled by Duhshasana's hand, standing among the five mountains, she was like a river thrown into turmoil.