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.
स हि प्रयत्नमकरोत्तीव्रमात्मविमोक्षणे। न चैनमशकद्वीरः कथंचित्प्रतिबाधितुम्
He made every effort to free himself, but the hero could not in any way resist the serpent.
स भीमसेनस्तेजस्वी तदा सर्पवशं गतः। चिन्तयामास सर्पस्य वीर्यमत्यद्भुतं महत्
Then Bhimasena, radiant and now under the serpent’s control, began to ponder the serpent’s astonishing and immense power.
उवाच च महासर्पं कामयाब्रूहि पन्नग। कस्त्वं भो भुजगश्रेष्ठ किं मया च करिष्यसि
And she spoke to the great serpent, 'Tell me your desire, O serpent; who are you, O best of snakes, and what will you do with me?'
पाण्डवो भीमसेनोऽहं धर्मराजादनन्तरः। नागायुतसमप्राणस्त्वया नीतः कथं वशम्
I am Bhimasena, son of Pandu, next after the king of righteousness; with the strength of ten thousand elephants, how have I come under your control?
सिंहाः केसरिणो व्याघ्रा महिषा वारणास्तथा। समागताश्च बहुशो निहताश्च मया युधि
Lions, tigers, leopards, buffaloes, and elephants, many assembled together, have been slain by me in battle.
राक्षसाश्च पिशाचाश्च पन्नगाश्च महाबलाः। भुजवेगमशक्ता मे सोढुं पन्नगसत्तम
Rakshasas, pisachas, and mighty serpents, O best of serpents, have all been unable to withstand the force of my arms.
किंनु विद्याबलं किंनु वरदानमथो तव। उद्योगमपि कुर्वाणो वशगोस्मि कृतस्त्वया
What is your power of knowledge, or what boon have you received, or what effort have you made, that even as I strive, I have been subdued by you?
अनुत्यो विक्रमो नॄणामिति मे धीयते मतिः। यथेदं मे त्वया नाग बलं प्रतिहतं महत्
My mind now thinks that the prowess of men is insignificant, since my great strength has been checked by you, O serpent.
इत्येवंवादिनं वीरं भीममक्लिष्टकारिणम्। भोगेन महता गृह्य समन्तात्पर्यवेष्टयत्
Thus speaking, the heroic Bhima, doer of unblemished deeds, was seized all around by the great coils of the serpent.
निगृह्यैनं महाबाहुं ततः स भुजगस्तदा। विमुच्यास्य भुजौ पीनाविदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having restrained him, the mighty-armed one, then the serpent released his thick arms and spoke these words.