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.
दिष्टस्त्वं क्षुधितस्याद्य देवैर्भक्षो महाभुज। दिष्ट्या कालस्य महतः प्रियाः प्राणा हि देहिनां
By fate, O mighty-armed one, today you are the food of a hungry being, ordained by the gods; by fate, for living beings, life is dear indeed.
यथा त्विदं मया प्राप्तं भुजङ्गत्वमरिंदम। तदवश्यं त्वया मत्तः श्रोतव्यं शृणु यन्मम
Just as I have come to this state of being a serpent, O subduer of foes, you must certainly hear from me how this happened; listen to my words.
इमामवस्थां संप्राप्तो ह्यहं कोपान्महर्षिणा। शापस्यान्तं परिप्रेप्सुः सर्वस् कथयामि तत्
I have come to this condition because of the anger of a great sage; desiring the end of the curse, I will tell you everything.
नहुषो नाम राजर्षिर्व्यक्तं ते श्रोत्रमागतः। तवैव पूर्वः पूर्वेषामायोर्वंशधरः सुतः
Nahusha, the royal sage by name, you have surely heard of him; he was your ancestor, a son of the illustrious lineage.
सोहं शापादगस्त्यस्य ब्राह्मणानवमत्य च। इमामवस्थामापन्नः पश्य दैवमिदं मम
I, having disrespected Brahmanas and by the curse of Agastya, have come to this state; see how fate has dealt with me.
त्वां चेदवध्यमायान्तमतीव प्रियदर्शनम्। अहमद्योपयोक्ष्यामि विधानं पश्य यादृशम्
If you, who are invulnerable and of most pleasing appearance, have come to me, I shall consume you today; see what fate decrees.
न हि मे मुच्यते कश्चित्कथंचित्प्रग्रहं गतः। गचजोवा महिषो वाऽपि षष्ठे काले नरोत्तम
No one whom I have seized ever escapes me in any way, whether man or buffalo, O best of men, even after six months.
नासि केवलसर्पेण तिर्यग्योनिषु वर्तता। गृहीतः कौरवश्रेष्ठ वरदानमिदं मम
You are not held by an ordinary serpent dwelling among animals; O best of the Kurus, I have obtained this boon.
पतता हि विमानाग्रान्मया शक्रासनाद्द्रुतम्। कुरु शापान्तमित्युक्तो भगवान्मुनिसत्तमः
As I was falling swiftly from the seat of Indra's chariot, the revered sage said to me, 'Fulfill the end of your curse.'
यस्त्वया वेष्टितो राजन्मोहमेति महाबलः'। मोक्षस्ते भविता राजन्कस्माच्चित्कालपर्ययात्
Whoever is bound by you, O king, even if he is very powerful, will become deluded; his release will come, O king, at some destined time.