महाकाया महावीर्याः कालकेया इवासुराः। वीर्योन्मत्ता बलोदग्रा राज्ञा समभिपूजिताः ।। 15
They were of great stature and immense strength, like the Kalakeya demons; intoxicated with their prowess, proud of their power, and honored by the king.
सिंहस्कन्धकटिग्रीवाः स्ववदाता मनस्विनः। असकृल्लब्धलक्षास्ते रङ्गे पार्थिवसन्निधौ ।। 16
With lion-like shoulders, hips, and necks, fair-skinned and noble-minded, they had repeatedly won prizes in the arena before the king.
तेषामेको महानासीत्सर्वमल्लानथाह्वयत्। व्यावल्गमानो ददृशे गर्जितोद्गतिभिः स्थितः ।। 17
Among them, one stood out as mighty, challenging all the wrestlers; he was seen leaping about, roaring, and standing firm with powerful movements.
वित्रस्तमनसः सर्वे मल्लास्ते हतचेतसः । अवाङ्भुखाश्च भीताश्च मल्लाश्चान्ये विचेतसः ।। 18
All the wrestlers were terrified in mind, their spirits broken; some were downcast and fearful, others confused and disheartened.
व्यसुत्वमपरे चैव वाञ्छन्ति प्रतिविह्वलाः। गां प्रवेष्टुमथेच्छन्ति खं गन्तुमिव चोत्थिताः ।। 19
Some, overwhelmed, wished to flee, anxiously desiring to enter the earth or rise into the sky.
त्रस्ताः शान्ता विषणाङ्गा निःशब्दं विह्वलेक्षणाः । विराटराजमल्लास्ते भग्नदर्पा हतप्रभाः ।। 20
Frightened, subdued, their bodies dispirited, silent and with anxious glances, the wrestlers of King Virata stood with their pride shattered and their brilliance lost.
मल्लेन्द्रनिहताः सर्वे न किंचित्प्रवदन्ति ते। मल्ल उद्वीक्ष्य तान्मल्लांस्रस्तान्वाक्यमुवाचह ।। 21
All the wrestlers, defeated by the lord of wrestlers, said nothing; the champion looked at them, fallen, and spoke these words.
आगतं मल्लराजं मां कृत्स्ने पृथिविमण्डले । सिंहव्याघ्रगणैः सार्धं क्रीडन्तं विद्धि भूपते ।। 22
Know, O king, that the king of wrestlers has come to me from the whole earth, playing together with groups of lions and tigers.
मल्लेन्द्रस्य वचः श्रुत्वा बलदर्पसमन्वितम् । विराटो वीक्ष्य तान्मल्लांस्त्रस्तान्वाक्यमुवाच ह ।। 23
Hearing the words of the lord of wrestlers, filled with strength and pride, Virata looked at the terrified wrestlers and spoke.
अनेन सह मल्लेन को योद्धुं शक्तिमान्नरः ।। 24
Who among men is capable of fighting with this wrestler?
इत्युक्तास्ते विराटेन सर्वे मल्ला विशांपते । तूष्णीमासंस्ततो राजा क्रोधाविष्ट उवाच ह ।। 25
When Virata said this, all the wrestlers, O lord of the people, remained silent; then the king, seized by anger, spoke.
ग्रामांश्च वेतनान्येपां मल्लानां हारयाम्यहम्। ततो युधिष्ठिरोऽवादीच्छ्रुत्वा मात्स्यपतेर्वचः ।। 26
I will take away the villages and wages of these wrestlers; then Yudhishthira, hearing the words of the king of Matsya, spoke.
अस्ति मल्लो महाराज मया दृष्टो युधिष्ठिरे। अनेन सह मल्लेन योद्धुं शक्नोति भूपते ।। 27
There is a wrestler, O great king, whom I have seen, O Yudhishthira; he is able to fight with this wrestler, O ruler of the earth.
योसौ मल्लो मया दृष्टः पूर्वं यौधिष्ठिरे पुरे। सोयं मल्लो वसत्येप राजंस्तव महानसे ।। 28
That wrestler whom I saw before in the city of Yudhishthira now lives here, O king, in your kitchen.
युधिष्ठिरवचः श्रुत्वा व्यक्तमाहेति पार्थिवः। सोप्यथाहूयतां क्षिप्रं योद्धुं मल्लेन संप्रति ।। 29
Hearing Yudhishthira's words, the king clearly ordered, 'Let him be summoned quickly now to fight with the wrestler.'
भीमसेनो विराटेन आहूतश्चोदितस्तथा। योद्धुं ततोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं योद्धुं शक्नोमि भूपते ।। 30
Bhimasena, summoned and urged by Virata to fight, then spoke, 'O king, I am able to fight.'
नरेन्द्र ते प्रभावेन श्रिया शक्त्या च शासनात्। अनेन सह मल्लेन योद्धुं राजेन्द्र शक्नुयाम् ।। 31
O king, by your power, splendor, strength, and command, I am able to fight this wrestler, O lord of kings.
युधिष्ठिरकृतं ज्ञात्वा श्रिया तव विशांपते। महादेवस्य भक्त्या च तं मल्लं पातयाम्यहम् ।। 32
Knowing that this contest was arranged by Yudhishthira, and by your majesty, O lord of the people, and with devotion to Mahadeva, I will bring down that wrestler.
चोदितो भीमसेनस्तु मल्लमाहूय मण्डले। योद्धुं व्यवस्थितो वीरो रेणुं संमृज्य हस्तयोः। मत्तो गज इवान्यं तु योद्धुं समुपचक्रमे ।। 33
Then Bhimasena, prompted, summoned the wrestler into the ring; the hero, wiping dust onto his hands, stood ready to fight, like a maddened elephant approaching another for battle.
अथ सूदेन तं मल्लं योधयामास मत्स्यराट्र ।। 34
Then, at the command of the charioteer, the king of the Matsyas set that wrestler to fight.
नोद्यमानस्तदा भीमो दुःखेनेवाकरोन्मतिम्। न हि शक्नोम्यशक्तोपि प्रत्याख्यातुं नराधिपं ।। 35
At that time, Bhima did not rise eagerly, as if reluctantly making up his mind; for though lacking the will, he could not refuse the king.
ततः स पुरुषव्याघ्रः शार्दूलशिथिलं चरन्। प्रविवेश महारङ्गं विराटमभिहर्षयन् ।। 36
Then that tiger among men, moving with the gait of a lion, entered the great arena, delighting King Virata.
बवन्ध कक्षां कौन्तेयस्ततः संहर्षयञ्जनम् । ततस्तु वृत्रसङ्काशं भीमो मल्लं समाह्वयत् ।। 37
Kunti's son then tied his belt, stirring excitement among the people; and Bhima, like Indra confronting Vritra, challenged the wrestler.
जीमूतं नाम तं तत्र मल्लप्रख्यातविक्रमम् । कक्षे मल्लं गृहीत्वाऽथ ननाद बहु सिंहवत् ।। 38
There, that wrestler named Jimuta, famed for his valor, was seized at the waist by Bhima, who then roared loudly like a lion.
तावुभौ सुमहोत्साहावुभौ भीमपराक्रमौ । मत्ताविव महाकायौ वारणौ षष्ठिहायनौ ।। 39
Both were full of great energy, both possessed Bhima's might; huge in body, like two six-year-old, intoxicated elephants.
ततस्तौ नरशार्दूलौ बाहुयुद्धं समीयतु। वीरौ परमसंहृष्टावन्योन्यजयकाङ्क्षिणौ ।। 40
Then those two tigers among men, eager for victory, both heroes, filled with supreme joy, engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
उभौ परमसंहृष्टौ बलेनातिबलावुभौ । अन्योन्यस्यान्तरं प्रेप्सू परस्परजयैषिणौ ।। 41
Both were exceedingly delighted, both possessed immense strength; each sought an opening in the other, each desiring victory over his rival.
कृतप्रतिकृतैश्चित्रैर्बाहुभिश्च सुसङ्कटैः। सन्निपातावधूतैश्च प्रमाथोन्मथनैस्तथा ।। 42
With skillful and intricate arm movements, with grappling, twisting, and powerful throws, they attacked each other fiercely.
क्षेपणैर्मुष्टिभिश्चैव वराहोद्धूतनिस्स्वनैः। तलैर्वज्रनिपातैश्च प्रसृष्टाभिस्तथैव च ।। 43
With hurlings, with fists sounding like boar grunts, with slaps like thunderbolts, and with forceful blows, they struck each other.
शलाकानखपातैश्च पादोद्धूतैश्च दारुणैः । जानुभिश्चाश्मनिर्घोषैः शिरोभिश्चावघट्टनैः ।। 44
With blows from fingers and nails, with harsh kicks, with knees resounding like stones, and with headbutts, they battered each other.