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.
ततो भीमस्य शब्देन भीताः सर्पा गुहाशयाः। अतिक्रान्तास्तु वेगेन जगामानुसृतः शनैः। ततोऽमरवरप्रख्यो भीमसेनो महाबलः
Then, frightened by Bhima’s noise, the snakes dwelling in caves quickly fled; and Bhimasena, mighty as the best of immortals, followed slowly after.
स ददर्श महाकायं भुजङ्गं रोमहर्षणम्। गिरिदुर्गे समापन्नं कायेनावृत्य कन्दरम्
He saw a great-bodied serpent, hair-raising to behold, blocking a mountain pass with its body, covering the cave’s entrance.
पर्वताभोगवर्ष्माणं भोगैश्चन्द्रार्कमण्डलैः। चित्राङ्गमङ्गजैश्चित्रैर्हरिद्रासदृशच्छविम्
Its form was like the slopes of a mountain, its coils adorned with patterns like the sun and moon, its limbs marked with wondrous designs, its hue resembling turmeric.
गुहाकारेण वक्रेण चतुर्दंष्ट्रेण राजता। दीप्ताक्षेणातिताम्रेण लिहानं सृक्विणी मुहुः
With a crooked, cave-like shape, four silver fangs, blazing red eyes, it repeatedly licked its jaws.
त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां कालान्तकयमोपमम्। निःश्वासक्ष्वेडनादेन भर्त्सयन्तमिव स्थितम्
It was a terror to all beings, resembling the destroyer at the end of time, standing as if threatening with its hissing and roaring breath.
स भीमं सहसाऽभ्येत्य पृदाकुः क्षुधितो भृशम्। जग्राहाजगरो ग्राहो भुजयोरुभयोर्बलात्
Suddenly, as Bhima approached, the ravenous serpent seized him forcefully with both its powerful coils.
तेन संस्पृष्टगात्रस्य भीमसेनस्य वै तदा। संज्ञा मुमोह सहसा वरदानेन तस्य हि
As soon as Bhimasena’s body was touched by the serpent, his senses were suddenly bewildered by the power of its boon.
दशनागसहस्राणि धारयन्ति हि यद्बलम्। इद्रलं भीमसेनस्य भुजयोरसमं परैः
The strength that a thousand elephants possess was in Bhimasena’s arms, unmatched by others.
स तेजस्वी तथा तेन भुजगेन वशीकृतः। विम्फुरञ्शनकैर्भीमो न शशाक विचेष्टितुम्
Yet even so, that radiant Bhima, subdued by the serpent, struggled and writhed but could not move.
नागायुतसमप्राणः सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः। गृहीतो व्यजहात्सत्वं वरदानविमोहितः
Equal in vitality to ten thousand elephants, lion-shouldered and mighty-armed, he was seized and lost his strength, bewildered by the serpent’s boon.