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.
विमुह्यमानां तां तत्र जगृहुः पञ्च पाण्डवाः। इन्द्रियाणि प्रसक्तानि विषयेषु यथारतिम्
There, as she was bewildered, the five Pandavas supported her, as the senses, when attached to their objects, are restrained.
अथ तां राक्षसीं मायामुत्थितां घोरदर्शनाम्। रक्षोघ्नैर्विविधैर्मन्त्रैर्धौम्यः सम्यक्प्रयोजितैः
Then Dhaumya, with well-applied mantras for slaying Rakshasas, began to counteract that terrifying Rakshasa magic which had arisen.
पश्यतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां नाशयामास वीर्यवान्। स नष्टमायोऽतिबलः क्रोधविस्फारितेक्षणः
As the sons of Pandu looked on, that mighty one, his eyes blazing with anger, destroyed the illusion, revealing his true power.
काममूर्तिधरः क्रूरः कालकल्पो व्यदृश्यत। तमुवाच ततो राजा दीर्घप्रज्ञो युधिष्ठिरः
Terrible in form, embodying desire, and resembling Death itself, he appeared; then the wise king Yudhishthira addressed him.
को भवान्कस्य वा किं ते क्रियतां कार्यमुच्यताम्। प्रत्युवाचाथ तद्रक्षो धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्
"Who are you? Whose are you? What do you want? Speak—what business brings you here?" Thus questioned, the rakshasa replied to the righteous king Yudhishthira.
अहं वकस्य वै भ्राता किर्मीर इति विश्रुतः। वनेऽस्मिन्काम्यके शून्ये निवसामि गतज्वरः
"I am known as Kirmira, brother of Vaka. I dwell here in this desolate Kamyaka forest, free from affliction."
युधि निर्जित्य पुरुषानाहारं नित्यमाचरन्। के यूयमभिसंप्राप्ता भक्ष्यभूता ममान्तिकम्। युधि निर्जित्यवः सर्वान्भक्षयिष्ये गतज्वरः
"Defeating men in battle, I always make them my food. Who are you who have come here, fit to be devoured by me? Conquering all of you in combat, I shall eat you, free from distress."
युधिष्ठिरस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य दुरात्मनः। आचचक्षे ततः सर्वं गोत्रनामादि भारत
Hearing the words of that wicked one, Yudhishthira then declared to him all their names and lineages, O Bharata.
पाण्डवो धर्मराजोऽहं यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः। सहितो भ्रातृभिः सर्वैर्भीमसेनार्जुनादिभिः
"I am Yudhishthira, king of dharma, if you have heard of me, accompanied by all my brothers—Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the rest."
हृतराज्यो वने वासं वस्तुं कृतमतिस्ततः। वनमभ्यागतो घोरमिदं तव परिग्रहम्
"Deprived of our kingdom, we have resolved to dwell in the forest; thus we have come to this dreadful wood, your domain."