तस्मिन्गिरौ प्रस्रवणोपपन्न- हिमोत्तरीयारुणपाण्डुसानौ। विशाखयूपं समुपेत्य चक्रु- स्तदा निवासं पुरुषप्रवीराः
On that mountain, endowed with springs, with slopes white as snow, reddish, and pale, they came to Viśākhayūpa and there the foremost men made their dwelling.
वराहनानामृगपक्षिजुष्टं महावनं चैत्ररथप्रकाशम्। शिवेन यात्वा मृगयाप्रधानाः संवत्सरं तत्रवने विजह्रुः
In a great forest, resounding with boars, deer, and birds, shining like Caitraratha, those skilled in the hunt, having journeyed with Śiva’s favor, spent a year there in joy.
तत्राससादातिबलं भुजङ्गं क्षुधार्दितं मृत्युमिवोग्ररूपम्। वृकोदरः पर्वतकन्दरायां विषादमोहव्यथितान्तरात्मा
There, in a mountain cave, Vṛkodara encountered a mighty serpent, tormented by hunger and fearsome as death itself, and his heart was seized by distress, confusion, and pain.
द्वीपोऽभवद्यत्र वृकोदरस्य युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः। अमोक्षयद्यस्तमनन्ततेजा ग्राहेण संवेष्टितसर्वगात्रम्
There, Yudhiṣṭhira, best of the righteous, became an island for Vṛkodara, whom the serpent of boundless energy, having seized all his limbs, would not release from its grasp.
ते द्वादशं वर्षमथोपयान्तं वने विहुर्तुं कुरवः प्रतीताः। तस्माद्वनाच्चैत्ररथप्रकाशा- च्छ्रिया ज्वलन्तस्तपसा च युक्ताः
Thus, as the twelfth year of their exile approached, the Kauravas, shining with splendor and devoted to austerity, left that forest, radiant as Caitraratha.
ततश्च यात्वा मरुधन्वपार्श्वं सदा धनुर्वेदरतिप्रधानाः। सरस्वतीमेत्य निवासकामाः सरस्ततो द्वैतवनं प्रतीयुः
Then, journeying along the edge of the desert, ever devoted to the science of archery, they came to the Sarasvatī, desiring to dwell there, and from there proceeded to the Dvaita forest.
समीक्ष् तान्द्वैतवने निविष्टा- न्निवासिनस्तत्रततोऽभिजग्मुः। तपोदमाचारसमाधियुक्ता- स्तृणोदपात्रावरणाश्मकुट्टाः
Observing those who dwelt in the Dvaita forest, the ascetics living there approached, devoted to austerity, discipline, and meditation, using grass, water pots, leaves, and stones as their simple means.
प्लक्षाक्षरौहीतकवेतसाश्च तथा बदर्यः खदिराः शिरीषाः। बिल्वेङ्गुदाः पीलुशमीकरीराः सरस्वतीतीररुहा बभूवुः
There were fig trees, akṣa, rauhīṭaka, vetasa, as well as jujube, khadira, śirīṣa, bilva, inguda, pīlu, śamī, and karīra—trees growing on the banks of the Sarasvatī.
तां यक्षगन्धर्वमहर्षिकान्ता- मावासभूतामिव देवतानाम्। सरस्वतीं प्रीतियुताश्चरन्तः सुखं विजह्रुर्नरदेवपुत्राः
The sons of the king, moving about joyfully with affection, dwelt happily on the Sarasvatī, a place beloved by yakṣas, gandharvas, and great sages, as if it were a dwelling of the gods.
कथं नागायुतप्राणो भीमो भीमपराक्रमः। भयमाहारयत्तीव्रं तस्मादजगरान्मुने
How did Bhīma, whose life is equal to ten thousand nāgas and whose might is terrible, come to experience intense fear from that serpent, O sage?
पौलस्त्यं धनदं युद्दे य आह्वयति दर्पितः। नलिन्यां कदनं कृत्वा निहन्ता यक्षरक्षसाम्
He who, proud, challenges Paulastya and Dhanada in battle, who slew yakṣas and rākṣasas after a slaughter at the lotus-lake—
तं संससि भयाविष्टमापन्नमरिसूदनम्। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
You speak of that destroyer of enemies, seized by fear and in distress; I wish to hear this, for I am filled with great curiosity.
बह्वाश्चर्ये वने तेषां वसतामुग्रधन्विनाम्। प्राप्तानामाश्रमं राजन्राजर्षेर्वृषपर्वणः
While those mighty archers dwelt in the forest, O king, many wondrous things occurred when they reached the hermitage of the royal sage Vṛṣaparvan.
यदृच्छया धनुष्पाणिर्बद्धखङ्गो वृकोदरः। ददर्श तद्वनं रम्यं देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्
By chance, Vṛkodara, bow in hand and sword at his side, beheld that delightful forest frequented by gods and gandharvas.
स ददर्श शुभान्देशान्गिरेर्हिमवतस्तदा। देवर्षिसिद्धचरितानप्सरोगणसेवितान्
Then he saw those beautiful regions of the Himavat mountain, inhabited by hosts of apsarases and sanctified by the deeds of divine sages and perfected beings.
चकोरैरुपचक्रैशच् पक्षिभिर्जीवजीवकैः। कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च तत्र तत्र निनादितान्
There, in various places, were filled with the cries of chakoras, upachakras, jīvajīvas, cuckoos, and bhṛṅgarāja birds.
नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैर्हिमसंस्पर्शकोमलैः। उपेतान्बहुलच्छायैर्मनोनयननन्दनैः
He saw trees ever bearing flowers and fruit, soft to the touch from the mountain's coolness, offering abundant shade and delighting the mind and eyes.
स संपश्यन्गिरिनदीर्वैडूर्यमणिसंनिभैः। सलिलैर्हिमसंकाशैर्हंसकारण्डवायुतैः
He beheld mountain streams, their waters like beryl gems, shining like snow, filled with swans and kāraṇḍava ducks.
वनानि देवदारूणां मेघानामिव वागुराः। हरिचन्दनमिश्राणि तुङ्गकालीयकान्यपि
There were forests of deodar trees, clustered like nets of clouds, mingled with fragrant sandalwood and tall kālīyaka trees.
मृगयां परिधावन्स समेषु मरुधन्वसु। विध्यन्मृगाञ्शरैः शुद्धैश्चचार स महाबलः
That mighty one, running after game on the level plains and sandy stretches, shot deer with pure arrows as he wandered.
भीमसेनस्तु विख्यातो महान्तं दंष्ट्रिणं बलात्। निघ्नन्नागशतप्राणो वने तस्मिन्महाबलः
Bhīmasena, famed for his strength, slew great tusked beasts by force, possessing the strength of a hundred elephants in that forest.
मृगाणां सवराहाणां महिषाणां महाभुजः। विनिघ्नंस्तत्रतत्रैव भीमो भीमपराक्रमः
Bhīma, of terrible prowess and mighty arms, killed there, again and again, wild animals, boars, and buffaloes.
स मातङ्गशतप्राणो मनुष्यशतवारणः। सिंहशार्दूलविक्रान्तो वने तस्मिन्महाबलः
That mighty one, equal to a hundred elephants and able to withstand a hundred men, with the courage of a lion or tiger, roamed that forest.
वृक्षानुत्पाटयामास तरसा वै बभञ्ज च। पृथिव्याश्च प्रदेशान्वै नादयंस्तु वनानि च
He uprooted trees with force and broke them; he made the earth and the forests resound with his might.
पर्वताग्राणि वै मृद्गन्नादयानश्च विज्वरः। प्रक्षिपन्पादपांश्चापि नादेनापूरयन्महीम्
He, free from fever, crushed mountain peaks and made the earth resound by throwing down trees and making loud noises.
वेगेन न्यपतद्भीमो निर्भयश्च पुनः पुनः। आस्फोटयन्क्ष्वेडयंश्च तलतालांश्च वादयन्। चिरसंबद्धदर्पस्तु भीमसेनो वने तदा
With great speed, Bhima fearlessly leapt again and again, stamping, whistling, and clapping his hands, his pride long unbroken as he roamed the forest.
गजेनद्राश्च महासत्वा मृगेन्द्राश्च महाबलाः। भीमसेनस्य नादेन व्यमुञ्चन्त गुहा भयात्
Great elephants and powerful lions, terrified by Bhimasena’s roar, fled from their caves.
क्वचित्प्रधावंस्तिष्ठंश्च क्वचिच्चोपविशंस्तथा। मृगप्रेप्सुर्महारौद्रे वने चरति निर्भयः
Sometimes running, sometimes standing still, sometimes sitting, he wandered the fierce forest without fear, seeking wild beasts.
स तत्रमनुजव्याघ्रो वने वनचरोपमः। पद्भ्यामभिसमापेदे भीमसेनो महाबलः
There, Bhimasena, mighty as a tiger among men and like a forest-dweller, advanced on foot through the woods.
स प्रविष्टो महारण्ये नादान्नदति चाद्भुतान्। त्रासयन्सर्वभूतानि महासत्वपराक्रमः
Entering the great forest, he made wondrous sounds, frightening all creatures with his mighty strength.