तच्छ्रुत्वा शर्ववचनमृषयः सत्यवादिनः। प्रहृष्टमनसो जग्मुर्यथास्वं पुनराश्रमम्
Hearing these words of Sharva, the truth-speaking sages, their minds gladdened, returned each to their own hermitage.
गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु तपस्विषु महात्मसु। पिनाकपाणिर्भगवान्सर्वपापहरो हरः
When all those great-souled ascetics had departed, the blessed Hara, bearer of the Pinaka and destroyer of all sins, appeared.
कैरातं वेषमास्थाय काञ्चनद्रुमसन्निभम्। विभ्राजमानो वपुषा गिरिर्मेरुरिवापरः
Assuming the guise of a Kirata, shining like a golden tree, he blazed with radiance like another Meru mountain.
श्रीगद्धनुरुपादाय शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान्। निष्पपात महार्चिष्मान्दहन्कक्षमिवानलः
Taking up a splendid bow and arrows resembling venomous serpents, he descended, blazing like fire burning a forest.
देव्या सहोमया श्रीमान्समानव्रतवेषया। नानावेषधरैर्हृष्टैर्भूतैरनुगतस्तदा
Accompanied by the illustrious Uma, who was dressed and vowed like himself, and followed by delighted spirits in various forms, he proceeded then.
किरातवेषसंछन्नः स्त्रीभिश्चापि सहस्रशः। अशोभत तदा राजन्स देशोऽतीव भारत
Concealed in the guise of a Kirata and surrounded by thousands of women, O Bharata, that place shone exceedingly at that time.
क्षणेन तद्वनं सर्वं निःशब्दमभवत्तदा। नादः प्रस्रवणानां च पक्षिणां चाप्युपारमत्
In a moment, that entire forest became silent; the sounds of waterfalls and birds ceased.
स सन्निकर्षमागम्य पार्थस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। मूकं नाम दितेः पुत्रं ददर्शाद्भुतदर्शनम्
Coming near to Partha, whose deeds were blameless, he beheld Muka, the son of Diti, a wondrous sight.
वाराहं रूपमास्थाय तर्जयन्तमिवार्जुनम्। हन्तुं परमदुष्टात्मा तमुवाचाथ फल्गुनः
Assuming the form of a boar, terrifying Arjuna as if to slay him, that most wicked being was then addressed by Phalguna.
गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान्। सज्यं धनुर्वरं कृत्वा ज्याघोषेण निनादयन्
Taking up the Gandiva bow and arrows resembling venomous serpents, stringing the excellent bow, he made it resound with the twang of the bowstring.
यन्मां प्रार्थयसे हन्तुमनागसमिहागतम्। तस्मात्त्वां पूर्वमेवाहं नेष्यामि यमसादनम्
Since you seek to kill me, though I have come here without fault, I shall send you to the abode of Yama before you can harm me.
दृष्ट्वा तं प्रहरिष्यन्तं फल्गुनं दृढधन्विनम्। किरातरूपी सहसा वारयामास शंकरः
Seeing Phalguna, the steadfast archer, about to strike, Shankara, in the form of a Kirata, suddenly intervened.
मयैष प्रार्थितः पूर्वं नीलमेघसमप्रभः। अनादृत्यैव तद्वाक्यं प्रजहाराथ फल्गुनः
This one, radiant as a dark thundercloud, was previously sought by me; disregarding my words, Phalguna then released his arrow.
किरातश्च समं तस्मिन्नेकलक्ष्ये महाद्युतिः। प्रमुमोचाशनिप्रख्यं शरमग्निशिखोपमम्
The illustrious Kirata, aiming at the same target, let loose an arrow like a thunderbolt, blazing like a tongue of fire.
तौ मुक्तौ सायकौ ताभ्यां समं तत्र निपेततुः। मूकस्य गात्रे विस्तीर्णे शैलपृष्ठनिभे तदा
Both arrows, released together, struck the broad body of the mute creature, which resembled the surface of a mountain.
यथाऽशनैर्विनिष्पेषो वज्रस्येव च पर्वते। तथा तयोः सन्निपातः शरयोरभवत्तदा
Just as thunder crushes a mountain, or as a vajra strikes a peak, so was the collision of their arrows at that moment.
स विद्धो बहुभिर्बाणैर्दीप्तास्यैः पन्नगैरिव। ममार राक्षसं रूपं भूयः कृत्वा सुदारुणम्
Pierced by many arrows, like serpents with blazing mouths, the creature assumed a terrifying rakshasa form and died.
स ददर्श ततो जिष्णुः पुरुषं काञ्चनप्रभम्। किरातवेषसंछन्नं स्त्रीसहायममित्रहा
Then Jishnu saw a man shining like gold, concealed in the guise of a Kirata, accompanied by a woman, destroyer of enemies.
तमब्रवीत्प्रीतमना कौन्तेयः प्रहसन्निव। को भवानटते शून्ये वने रस्त्रीगणसंवृतः
With a cheerful mind, almost laughing, Kaunteya addressed him: 'Who are you, wandering in this empty forest, surrounded by women?'
न त्वमस्मिन्वने घोरे बिभेषि कनकप्रभ। किमर्थं च त्वया विद्धो मृगोऽयं मत्परिग्रहः
'You do not fear in this dreadful forest, O golden-hued one. Why did you wound this animal, which was my prize?'
मयाऽभिपन्नः पूर्वं हि राक्षसोऽयमिहागतः। कामात्परिभवाद्वाऽपि न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे
'This rakshasa, who came here, was first pursued by me; whether out of desire or contempt, you shall not escape alive from me.'
न ह्येष मृगयाधर्मो यस्त्वयाऽद्य कृतो मयि। तेन त्वां भ्रंशयिष्यामि जीवितात्पर्वताश्रयम्
'What you have done today is not the proper conduct of hunting, for you acted against me; therefore, I will deprive you of life, O mountain-dweller.'
इत्युक्तः पाण्डवेयेन किरातः प्रहसन्निव। उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पाण्डवं सव्यसाचिनं
Thus addressed by the Pandava, the Kirata, smiling, spoke gently to the left-handed Pandava.
न मत्कृते त्वया वीरः भीः कार्या वनमन्तिकात्। इयं भूमिः सदाऽस्माकमुचिता वसतां वने
'You need not fear, O hero, on my account, nor avoid the forest; this land is always fit for us to dwell in.'
त्वया तु दुष्करः कस्मादिह वासः प्ररोचितः। वयं तु बहुसत्त्वेऽस्मिन्निवसामस्तपोधन
'Why have you chosen to reside here, which is so difficult? We, O ascetic, live in this place, rich in creatures.'
भवांस्तु कृष्णवत्मार्भः सुकुमारः सुखोचितः। कथं शून्यमिमं देशमेकाकी विचरिष्यति
'You, with Krishna's soul, are young, delicate, accustomed to comfort; how will you wander alone in this desolate region?'
गाण्डीवमाश्रयं कृत्वा नाराजांश्चाग्निसन्निभान्। निवसामि महारण्ये द्वितीय इव पावकः
'Relying on Gandiva, and not fearing kings fierce as fire, I dwell in this great forest, like a second blazing flame.'
एष चापि मया जन्तुर्मृगरूपं समाश्रितः। राक्षसो निहतो घोरो हन्तुं मामिह चागतः
'This creature, assuming the form of a deer, was slain by me, a dreadful rakshasa who came here to kill me.'
मयैष धन्वनिर्मुक्तैस्ताडितः पूर्वमेव हि। बाणैरभिहतः शेते नीतश्च यमसादनम्
'He was struck earlier by arrows released from my bow; wounded by my shafts, he lies dead, taken to the abode of Yama.'
ममैवायं लक्ष्यभूतः पूर्वमेव परिग्रहः। ममैव च प्रहारेण जीविताद्व्यपरिपितः
'He was my target from the beginning, my rightful prize; and by my attack, he was deprived of life.'