आत्मा हि जायेत तस्यां तस्मज्जाया भवत्युत। भर्ता च भार्यया रक्ष्यः कथं जायान्ममोदरे
For the self is indeed born in her; therefore, the wife is truly important. And the husband too must be protected by the wife—how else would a son be born from my womb?
नन्विमे शरणं प्राप्तं न त्यजन्ति कदाचन। ते मां शरणमापन्नां नान्वपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः
Surely, those who have sought refuge are never abandoned; the Pāṇḍavas did not forsake me when I sought their protection.
पञ्चभिः पतिभिर्जाताः कुमासरा मे महौजसः। एतेषामप्यवेक्षार्थं त्रातव्याऽस्मि जनार्दन
My sons, born of five husbands and possessing great might, are Kumāras; for the sake of these also, O Janārdana, I must be protected.
प्रतिविन्ध्यो युधिष्ठिरात्सुतसोमो वृकोदरात्। अर्जुनाच्छ्रुतकीर्तिश्च शतानीकस्तु नाकुलिः
Prativindhya is from Yudhiṣṭhira, Sutasoma from Vṛkodara, and from Arjuna is Śrutakīrti; Śatānīka is the son of Nakula.
कनिष्ठाच्छ्रुतकर्मा च सर्वे सत्यपराक्रमा। प्रद्युम्नो यादृशः कृष्ण तादृशास्ते महारथाः
From the youngest is Śrutakarman; all are true in valor. O Kṛṣṇa, they are great warriors, equal to Pradyumna.
नन्विमे धनुषि श्रेष्ठा अजेया युधि शात्रवैः। किमर्थं धार्तराष्ट्राणां सहन्ते दुर्बलीयसाम्
Surely, these are the best with the bow, invincible in battle against enemies—why then do they endure the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who are weaker?
अधर्मेण हृतं राज्यं सर्वे दासाः कृतास्तथा। सभायां परिकृष्टाऽहमेकवस्त्रा रजस्वला
The kingdom was taken unrighteously, and all were made slaves; I was dragged in the assembly, wearing a single garment, during my period.
नाधिज्यमपि यच्छक्यं कर्तुमन्येन गाण्डिवम्। अन्यत्रार्जुनभीमाभ्यां त्वया वा मधुसूदन
No one but Arjuna, Bhīma, or you, O Madhusūdana, can even string the Gāṇḍīva bow.
धिग्बलं भीमसेनस्य धिक्पार्थस्य च पौरुषम्। यत्र दुर्योधनः कृष्ण मुहूर्तमपि जीवति
Shame on Bhīmasena's strength, shame on Arjuna's manliness, when Duryodhana, O Kṛṣṇa, still lives even for a moment.
य एतानाक्षिपद्राष्टात्सह मात्राऽविहिंसकान्। अधीयानान्पुरा बालान्व्रतस्थान्मधुसूदन
He who insulted these, who were harmless, with their mother, studying as children, observing vows, O Madhusūdana—
भोजने भीमसेनस्य पापः प्राक्षिपयद्विषम्। कालकूटं नवं तीक्ष्णं संभृतं रोमहर्षणम्
In Bhīmasena's food, the wicked one placed poison—fresh, sharp kālakūṭa, terrifying to the touch.
तज्जीर्णमविकारेण सहान्नेन जनार्दन। सशेषत्वान्महाबाहो भीमस्य पुरुषोत्तम
That was digested without harm, together with the food, O Janārdana, because of the remaining might of Bhīma, O mighty-armed, best of men.
प्रमाणकोट्यां विश्वस्तं तथा सुप्तं वृकोदरम्। बद्ध्वैनं कृष्ण गङ्गायां प्रक्षिप्य पुरमाव्रजत्
Trusting in the measure of sleep, they bound Vṛkodara as he slept, O Kṛṣṇa, and threw him into the Gaṅgā, then returned to the city.
यदा विबुद्धः कौन्तेयस्तदा संछिद्य बन्धनम्। उदतिष्ठन्महाबाहुर्भीमसेनो महाबलः
When the son of Kuntī awoke, he broke his bonds and rose up, the mighty-armed, great warrior Bhīmasena.
आशीविषैः कृष्णसर्पैः सुप्तंचैनमदंशयत्। सर्वेष्वेवाङ्गदेशेषु न ममार च शत्रुहा
While he slept, black serpents bit him with their venom, yet the slayer of enemies did not die, though bitten on every limb.
प्रतिबुद्धस्तु कौन्तेयः सर्वान्सर्पानपोथयत्। सारथिं चास्य दयितमपहस्तेन जघ्निवान्
But when the son of Kuntī awoke, he struck down all the serpents and, with his bare hand, killed their beloved charioteer.
पुनः सुप्तानुपाधाक्षीद्बालकान्वारणावते। शयानानार्यया सार्धं को नु तत्कर्तुमर्हति
Again, she watched over the sleeping children in the shelter of the forest; who indeed could do such a thing, lying there with the noble lady?
यत्रार्या रुदती भीता पाण्डवानिदमब्रवीत्। महद्व्यसनमापन्ना शिखिना परिवारिता
There, the noble lady, weeping and afraid, spoke these words to the Pandavas: 'We have fallen into great misfortune, surrounded by fire.'
हा हतास्मि कुंतोन्वद्य भवेच्छान्तिरिहानलात्। अनाथा विनशिष्यामि बालकैः पुत्रकैः सह
'Alas, I am destroyed, O Kunti! Perhaps peace will come from this fire here. Helpless, I shall perish together with my young sons.'
तत्र भीमो महाबाहुर्वायुवेगपराक्रमः। आर्यामाश्वासयामास भ्रातॄंश्चापि वृकोदरः
Then Bhima, mighty-armed and possessing the speed and power of the wind, comforted the noble lady and his brothers as well.
वैनतेयो यथा पक्षी गरुत्मान्पततांवरः। तथैवाभिपतिष्यामि भयंवो नेह विद्यते
'Just as Garuda, king of birds, swoops down from the sky, so shall I carry you all away; there is no danger here for you.'
आर्यामङ्केन वामेन राजानं दक्षिणेन च। अंसयोश्च यमौ कृत्वा पृष्ठे बीभत्सुमेव च
He took the noble lady on his left, the king on his right, the twins on his shoulders, and Arjuna on his back.
सहसोत्पत्य वेगेन सर्वानादाय वीर्यवान्। भ्रातॄनार्यां च बलवान्मोक्षयामास पावकात्
Then, leaping up swiftly with great force, the powerful Bhima carried them all—his brothers and the noble lady—and rescued them from the fire.
ते रात्रौ प्रस्थितां सर्वे सह मात्रा यशस्विनः। अभ्यगच्छन्महारण्ये हिडिम्बवनमन्तिकात्
Those illustrious ones, together with their mother, set out that night and reached the forest near the Hidimba grove.
श्रान्ताः प्रसुप्तास्तत्रेमे मात्रा सह सुदुःखिताः। सुप्तांश्चैनानभ्यगच्छद्धिडिम्बा नाम राक्षसी
Exhausted and deeply distressed, they all fell asleep there with their mother; as they slept, a rakshasi named Hidimba approached them.
सा दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवांस्तत्र सुप्तान्मात्रा सह क्षितौ। हृच्छयेनाभिभूतात्मा भीमसेनमकामयत्
Seeing the Pandavas sleeping there on the ground with their mother, her heart overcome with desire, Hidimba longed for Bhimasena.
भीमस्य पादौ कृत्वा तु स्वउत्सङ्गे ततोऽबला। पर्यमर्दत संहृष्टा कल्याणी मृदुपाणिना
Placing Bhima's feet upon her lap, that lovely and delighted rakshasi gently caressed him with her soft hands.
तामबुद्ध्यदमेयात्मा बलवान्सत्यविक्रमः। पर्यपृच्छत तां भीमः किमिहेच्छस्यनिन्दिते
The strong and steadfast Bhima, whose resolve could not be shaken, became aware of her and asked, 'What do you want here, O blameless one?'
एवमुक्ता तु भीमेन राक्षसी कामरूपिणी। भीमसेनं महात्मानमाह चैवमनिन्दिता
Thus addressed by Bhima, the rakshasi of changing form, flawless in beauty, spoke these words to the great-souled Bhimasena:
पलायध्वमितः क्षिप्रं मम भ्रातैष वीर्यवान्। आगमिष्यति वो हन्तुं तस्माद्गच्छत माचिरम्
'Flee quickly from here! My powerful brother will soon come to kill you; therefore, go at once.'