[बलं चातिबलो मेने न मेऽस्ति सदृशो महान्।] ततः पुनरथोवाच पर्यश्रुनयनो हरिः
He considered Bhima's strength to be immense, thinking, 'There is none equal to me.' Then, with tears in his eyes, the monkey spoke again.
भीममाभाष्य सौहार्दाद्बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा। गच्छ वीर स्वमावासं स्मर्तव्योऽस्मि कथान्तरे
Addressing Bhima with affection, his speech choked with tears, the monkey said, 'Go, hero, to your abode; remember me in another tale.'
इहस्थश्च कुरुश्रेष्ठ न निवेद्योस्मि कस्यचित्। धनदस्यालयाच्चापि विसृष्टानां महाबल
O best of the Kurus, while I remain here, I am not to be revealed to anyone; I am one of those of great might released from the abode of the Lord of Wealth.
एष काल इहायातुं देवगन्धर्वयोषिताम्। ममापि सफलं च क्षुः स्मारितश्चास्मि राघवम्
Now is the time for the celestial nymphs and Gandharva women to come here; my hunger too has been satisfied, and I have remembered Rāghava.
[रामाभिधानं विष्णुं हि जगद्धृदयनन्दनम्। सीतावक्रारविन्दार्कं दशास्यध्वान्तभास्करम् ।।]
[For Rāma is none other than Viṣṇu, the delight of the world's heart, the sun to Sītā's lotus-face, the dispeller of the darkness of the ten-headed one.]
मानुषं गात्रसंस्पर्शं गत्वा भीम त्वया सह। तदस्मद्दर्शनं वीर कौन्तेयामाघमस्तु ते
Having experienced the touch of a human body together with you, Bhīma, may this vision of me, O hero, bring you no harm, son of Kuntī.
भ्रातृत्वं त्वं पुरस्कृत्य वरं वरय भारत। यदि तावन्मया क्षुद्रा गत्वा वारणसाह्वयम्
Considering our brotherhood, ask for a boon, O Bhārata; if you wish, I will go to Vāraṇasā and accomplish even a small task for you.
धार्तराष्ट्रा निहन्तव्या यावदेतत्करोम्यहम्। शिलया नगरं वा तन्मर्दितव्यं मया यदि
The sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra are to be slain; as long as I am here, I will do this—if you wish, I will crush their city with a mountain.
[बद्ध्वा दुर्योधनं चाद्य आनयामि तवान्तिकम्।] यावदेतत्करोम्यद्यकामं तव महाबल
[Binding Duryodhana today, I can bring him before you; as long as I am here, I will do whatever you desire, O mighty one.]
भीमसेनस्तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तस् महात्मनः। प्रत्युवाच हनून्तं प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना
Hearing these words of that great soul, Bhīmasena replied to Hanumān with joy in his heart.
कृतमेव त्वया सर्वं मम वानरपुङ्गव। स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु महाबाहो कामये त्वां प्रसीदमे
All has already been done by you for me, O foremost of monkeys; may you be blessed, mighty-armed one, I only wish for your favor.
सनाथाः पाण्डवाः सर्वे त्वया नाथेन वीर्यवन्। तवैव तेजसा सर्वान्विजेष्यामो वयं परान्
All the Pāṇḍavas are protected by you, our powerful guardian; by your own splendor, we shall conquer all our foes.
एवमुक्तस्तु हनुमान्भीमसेनमभाषत। भ्रातृत्वात्सौहृदाच्चैव करिष्यामि प्रियं तव
Thus addressed, Hanumān spoke to Bhīmasena: 'Out of brotherhood and friendship, I will do what pleases you.'
चमूं विगाह्य शत्रूणां परशक्तिसमाकुलाम्। यदा सिंहरवं वीर करिष्यसि महाबल
When you, O mighty one, roar like a lion as you penetrate the enemy ranks filled with formidable warriors,
तदाहं बृंहयिष्यामि स्वरवेण रवं तव। `यं श्रुत्वैव भविष्यन्ति व्यसवस्तेऽरयो रणे
then I will amplify your roar with my own voice; just by hearing it, your enemies will lose their lives in battle.
विजयस्य ध्वजस्थश्च नादान्मोक्ष्पामि दारुणान्। शत्रूणां ये प्राणहराः सुखं येन हनिष्यथ
Stationed atop your victory-banner, I will release dreadful sounds that take the lives of your enemies, so that you may slay them with ease.
एवमाभाष्य हनुमांस्तदा पाण्डवनन्दनम्। मार्गमाख्याय भीमाय तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Having spoken thus to the joy of the Pāṇḍava, Hanumān showed Bhīma the path and then vanished right there.
गते तस्मिन्हरिवरे भीमोपि बलिनांवरः। तेन मार्गेण विपुलं व्यचरद्गन्धमादनम्
When that best of monkeys had departed, Bhīma, foremost among the strong, traveled the vast Gandhamādana along the path shown to him.
अनुस्मरन्वपुस्तस्य श्रियं चाप्रतिमां भुवि। माहात्म्यमनुभावं च स्मरन्दाशरथेर्ययौ
Recalling the wondrous form and unmatched glory of that being on earth, and remembering the greatness and power of the son of Daśaratha, he went on.
स तानि रमणीयानि वनान्युपवनानि च। विलोलयामास तदा सौगन्धिकवनेप्सया
He then wandered through those beautiful forests and groves, seeking the Saugandhika flowers.
फुल्लपद्मविचित्राणि सरांसि सरितस्तथा। नानाकुसुमचित्राणि पुष्पितानि वनानि च
The lakes adorned with blooming lotuses, the rivers likewise, and the forests blossoming with various flowers appeared most beautiful.
मत्तवारणयुथानि पङ्कक्लिन्नानि भारत। वर्षतामिव मेघानां वृन्दानि ददृशे तदा
There, O Bharata, were seen herds of intoxicated elephants, their bodies smeared with mud, resembling clusters of clouds pouring rain.
हरिणैश्चपलापाङ्गैर्हरिणीसहितैर्वनम्। सशष्पकवलैः श्रीमान्पथि दृष्ट्वा द्रुतं ययौ
In the forest, Bhima beheld deer with restless glances, accompanied by their mates, grazing on fresh grass, and swiftly proceeded on his path.
महिषैश्च वराहैश्च शार्दूलैश्च निषेवितम्। व्यपेतभीर्गिरिं शौर्याद्भीमसेनो व्यगाहत
Bhimasena, fearless by his own valor, entered the mountain frequented by buffaloes, boars, and tigers.
कुसुमानतशाखैश्च ताम्रपल्लवकोमलैः। याच्यमान इवारण्ये द्रुमैर्मारुतकम्पितैः
With trees whose branches bent under flowers, their tender coppery shoots trembling in the wind, it was as if the forest itself was beseeching him.
कृतपद्माञ्जलिपुटा मत्तषट्पदसेविताः। प्रियतीर्थवना मार्गे पद्मिनीः समतिक्रमन्
Passing by lotus ponds along the way, beloved for their sacred waters, their petals joined as if in prayer and attended by intoxicated bees, he continued onward.
सज्जमानमनोदृष्टिः फुल्लेषु गिरिसानुषु। द्रौपदीवाक्यपाथेयो भीमो भीमपराक्रमः
With his mind intent and gaze fixed upon the blossoming mountain slopes, Bhima of terrible prowess pressed on, sustained by Draupadi’s words.
परिवृत्तेऽहनि ततः प्रकीर्णहरिणे वने। काञ्चनैर्विलैः पद्मैर्ददर्श विपुलां नदीम्
Then, as the day turned, in a forest teeming with scattered deer, he saw a broad river adorned with golden lotuses.
हंसकारण्डवयुतां चक्रवाकोपशोभिताम्। रचितामिव तस्याद्रेर्भालां विमलपङ्कजाम्
Filled with swans and cranes, beautified by chakravaka ducks, it seemed as if the river was the shining brow of that mountain, adorned with spotless lotuses.
तस्यां नद्यां महासत्वः सौगन्धिकवनं महत्। अपश्यत्प्रीतिजननं बालार्कसदृशद्युति
On that river, the mighty one beheld a great Saugandhika forest, delightful to behold, radiant like the rising sun, and gladdening the heart.