युधिष्ठिरस्तु कौन्तेयो बभूवास्वस्तचेतनः। अनिष्टदर्शनान्घोरानुत्पातान्परिचिन्तयन्
But Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, became deeply troubled, pondering dreadful omens and terrifying portents.
दारुणं ह्यशिवं नादं शिवा दक्षिणतः स्थिता। दीप्तायां दिशि वित्रस्ता रौति तस्याश्रमस्य ह
A harsh, inauspicious sound arose from the south, where a jackal, terrified, howled near the blazing quarter by their hermitage.
एकपक्षाक्षिचरणा वर्तिका घोरदर्शना। रक्तं वमन्ती ददृशे प्रत्यादित्यमभासुरा
A ghastly one-winged, one-eyed, one-legged quail, vomiting blood, was seen shining toward the sun.
प्रववौ चानिलो रूक्षश्चण्डः सर्करकर्षणः। अपसव्यानि सर्वाणि मृगपक्षिरुतानि च
A rough, violent wind blew, dragging gravel; all the cries of beasts and birds sounded from the left.
पृष्ठतो वायसः कृष्णो याहियाहीति वाशति। मुहुर्मुहुः स्फुरति च दक्षिणोऽस्य भुजस्तथा
Behind him, a black crow repeatedly cawed, 'Go, go!' and again and again his right arm twitched.
हृदयं चरणश्चापि वामोऽस्य परितप्यति। सव्यस्याक्ष्णओ विकारश्चाप्यनिष्टः समपद्यत
His heart and left foot burned with pain, and an ominous distortion appeared in his left eye.
धर्मराजोपि मेधावी शङ्कमानो महद्भयम्। द्रौपदीं परिपप्रच्छ क्व भीम इति भारत
Even the wise king Yudhiṣṭhira, suspecting great danger, asked Draupadī, 'Where is Bhīma?'
शंस तस्मै पाञ्चाली चिरयातं वृकोदरम्। स प्रतस्थे महाबाहुर्धौम्येन सहितो नृपः
Pāñcālī told him that Vṛkodara had been gone a long time; then the mighty-armed king set out with Dhaumya.
द्रौपद्या रक्षणं कार्यमित्युवाच धनंजयम्। नकुलं सहदेवं च व्यादिदेश द्विजान्प्रति
He told Dhanañjaya to guard Draupadī, and instructed Nakula and Sahadeva to attend to the brahmins.
स तस्य पदमुन्नीय तस्मादेवाश्रमात्प्रभुः। मृगयामास कौन्तेयो भीमसेनं महावने
Then, having discerned his path from that very hermitage, the son of Kuntī went searching for Bhīmasena in the great forest.
स प्राचीं दिशमास्थाय महतो गजयूथपान्। ददर्श पृथिवीं चिह्नैर्भीमस्य परिचिह्निताम्
Heading east, he saw great elephant herds and the earth marked with signs of Bhīma.
ततो मृगसहस्राणि मृगेनद्राणां शतानि च। पतितानि वने दृष्ट्वा मार्गं तस्याविशन्नृपः
There, seeing thousands of deer and hundreds of forest animals fallen, the king entered his path.
धावतस्तस्य वीरस् मृगार्थं वातरंहसः। ऊरुवातविनिर्भग्नान्द्रुमान्व्यावर्जितान्पथिः
As the hero ran swiftly after the deer, he saw trees with their trunks shattered by Bhīma's thighs, cleared from the path.
स गत्वा तैस्तदा चिह्नैर्ददर्श गिरिगह्वरे। [रूक्षमारुतभूयिष्ठे निष्पत्रद्रुमसंकुले
Following those signs, he came to a mountain cave, swept by harsh winds and crowded with leafless trees.
ईरिणे निर्जले देशे कण्टकिद्रुमसंकुले। अश्मस्थाणुक्षुपाकीर्णे सुदुर्गे विषमोत्कटे।] गृहीतं भुजगेन्द्रेण निश्चेष्टमनुजं तदा
In a waterless, thorny, stony, and perilous wasteland, he saw his younger brother seized by the king of serpents, motionless.
युधिष्ठिरस्तमासाद्य सर्पभोगेन वेष्टितम्। दयितं भ्रातरं धीमानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Yudhiṣṭhira, seeing his beloved brother bound in the coils of the serpent, spoke these words.
कुन्तीमातः कथमिमामापदं त्वमवाप्तवान्। कश्चायं पर्वताभोगप्रतिमः पन्नगोत्तमः
O son of Kunti, how have you come to this misfortune? And who is this foremost serpent, massive as a mountain's slope?
स धर्मराजमालक्ष्य भ्राता भ्रतरमग्रजम्। कथयामास तत्सर्वं ग्रहणादिविचेष्टितम्
Seeing the king of righteousness, the younger brother told his elder brother all that had happened, from the capture onward.
[अयमार्य महासत्वो भक्षार्थं मां गृहीतवान्। नहुषो नाम राजर्षिः प्राणवानिव संस्थितः
This noble being has seized me for food; he is called Nahusha, a royal sage, and stands here as if alive.
मुच्यतामयमायुष्मन्भ्राता मेऽमितविक्रमः। वयमाहारमन्यं ते दास्यामः क्षुन्निवारणम्
Release my brother, O long-lived one, whose might is immeasurable; we will provide you with another food to satisfy your hunger.
मुच्यतामयमायुष्मन्भ्राता मेऽमितविक्रमः। गम्यतां नेह स्थातव्यं श्वो भवानपि मे भवेत्
Release my brother, O long-lived one, whose might is immeasurable; go from here, do not remain, or tomorrow you too may become mine.
व्रतमेतन्महाबाहो विषयं मम यो ब्रजेत्। स म भक्षो भवेत्तात त्वं चापि विषये मम
O mighty-armed one, this is my vow: whoever enters my domain becomes my food, dear one, and you too are in my domain.
चिरेणाद्य मयाऽऽहारः प्राप्तोऽयमनुजस्तव। नाहमेनं विमोक्ष्यामि न चान्यमभिकाङ्क्षये ।।]
After a long time, I have obtained food today—your younger brother; I will not release him, nor do I desire another.
देवो वा यदि वा दैत्य उरगो वा भवान्यदि। सत्यं सर्प वचो ब्रूहि पृच्छति त्वां युधिष्ठिरः
Whether you are a god, demon, or serpent, speak the truth, O serpent; Yudhishthira asks you.
किमर्थं च त्वया ग्रस्तो भीमसेनो भुजंगम। किमाहृत्यविदित्वा वा प्रीतिस्ते स्याद्भुजंगम। किमाहारं प्रयच्छामि कथं मुञ्चेद्भवानिमम्
For what reason have you seized Bhimasena, O serpent? Would you be pleased if you received food without knowing its nature? What food shall I give you, and how will you release him?
नहुषो नाम राजाऽहमासं पूर्वस्तवानघ। प्रथितः पञ्चमः सोमादायोः पुत्रो नराधिप
I was once a king named Nahusha, renowned, the fifth son of Soma among rulers of men.
क्रतुभिस्तपसा चैवस्वाध्यायेन दमेन च। त्रैलोक्यैश्वर्यमव्यग्रं प्राप्तोऽहंविकर्मेण च
Through sacrifices, austerity, study, and self-control, and by righteous deeds, I attained untroubled sovereignty over the three worlds.
तदैश्वर्यं समासाद्य दर्पो मामगमत्तदा। सहस्रं हि द्विजातीनामुवाह शिविकां मम
Having gained that lordship, pride arose in me; a thousand Brahmins bore my palanquin.
ऐश्वर्यमदमत्तोऽहमवमत्य ततो द्विजान्। इमामगस्त्येन दशामानीत इतिमे स्मृतिः
Intoxicated by power and arrogance, I disrespected the Brahmins; therefore, I was brought to this state by Agastya—so I remember.
न तु मामजहात्प्रज्ञा यावदन्वेति पाण्डवः। तस्यैवानुग्रहाद्राजन्नगस्त्यस्य महात्मनः
But my discernment did not abandon me, O Pandava, as long as you approached; it is by the favor of the great-souled Agastya.