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.'
अथ भीमोऽभ्युवाचैनां साभिमानमिदं वचः। नोद्विजेयमहं तस्मान्निहनिष्येऽहमागतम्
But Bhima proudly replied to her, 'I am not afraid of him; I will slay him when he arrives.'
तयोः श्रुत्वा तु संजल्पमागच्छद्राक्षसाधमः। भीमरूपो महानादान्विसृजन्भीमदर्शनः
Hearing their conversation, the wicked rakshasa, terrifying in appearance and voice, came there, roaring like thunder.
केन सार्धं कथयसि आनयैनं ममान्तिकम्। हिडिम्बे भक्षयिष्यामो न चिरं कर्तुमर्हसि
'With whom are you speaking? Bring him here to me, Hidimba! We shall devour him—do not delay!'
सा कृपासंगृहीतेन हृदयेन मनस्विनी। नैनमैच्छत्तदाकर्तुमनुक्रोशादनिन्दिता
But that noble-hearted woman, moved by compassion, did not wish to do this out of pity, O blameless one.
स नादान्विनदन्घोरान्राक्षसः पुरुषादकः। अभ्यद्रवत वेगेन भीमसेनं तदा किल
The man-eating Rakshasa, making a dreadful noise, rushed swiftly toward Bhimasena at that moment.
तमभिद्रुत्य संक्रुद्धो वेगेन महता बली। अगृह्णात्पाणिना पाणिं भीमसेनस्य राक्षसः
Charging with great fury and strength, the Rakshasa seized Bhimasena’s hand with his own hand.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शं वज्रसंहननं दृढम्। संहत्य भीमसेनाय व्याक्षिपत्सहसा करम्
With a grip as hard as Indra’s thunderbolt, strong as a diamond, he suddenly pressed Bhimasena’s hand tightly.
गृहीतं पाणिना पाणिं भीमसेनस्य रक्षसा। नामृष्यत महाबाहुस्तत्राक्रुद्ध्यद्वृकोदरः
The Rakshasa held Bhimasena’s hand, but the mighty-armed Vrikodara could not endure it and grew angry there.
तदासीत्तुमुलं युद्धं भीमसेनहिडिम्बयोः। सर्वास्त्रविदुषोर्घोरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव
Then a tumultuous battle took place between Bhimasena and Hidimba, fierce as that between Vritra and Indra, both skilled in all weapons.
विक्रीड्य सुचिरं भीमो राक्षसेन सहानघ। निजघान महावीर्यस्तं तदा निर्बलं बली
After playing for a long time with the Rakshasa, the mighty Bhima, faultless in valor, struck him down when he became powerless.