सुशर्मा परवीरघ्नो बलवान्वीर्यवान्गदी। विरथं मत्स्यराजानं जीवग्राहमथाग्रहीत् ।। 11
Susharma, destroyer of enemy heroes, strong and mighty with his mace, seized the chariotless Matsya king alive.
तमुन्मथ्य सुशर्मा तु युवतीमिव कामुकः। स्यन्दनं स्वं समारोप्य प्रययौ भीमविक्रमः ।। 12
Susharma, overpowering him as a lover does a maiden, placed him on his own chariot and departed, displaying tremendous valor.
तस्मिन्गृहीते विरथे विराटे बलवत्तरे। बलं सर्वं विभग्नं तन्निरुत्साहं निराशकम् ।। 13
When the mighty Virata, the strongest among them, was captured and his chariot seized, all the army was shattered, dispirited, and lost hope.
प्राद्रवन्त भयान्मात्स्यास्त्रिगर्तैरर्दिता रणे । विदिक्षुः दिक्षु सर्वासु पलायन्ति च यान्ति च ।। 14
The Matsyas, assailed in battle by the Trigartas, fled in fear, scattering in all directions, running and escaping everywhere.
तेषु विद्रांव्यमाणेषु कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भिमसेनमरिन्दमम् ।। 15
As they were being routed, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti and righteous in soul, spoke to Bhimasena, the subduer of enemies.
मात्स्यराजस्त्रिगर्तेन परामृष्टः सुशर्मणा। तं मोक्षय महाबाही मा गमद्द्विषतां वशम् ।। 16
The king of the Matsyas has been seized by Susharma of the Trigartas; O mighty-armed one, free him, do not let him fall into the hands of the enemy.
भीमसेनः महाबाहो गृहीतं तु सुशर्मणा। त्रायस्व मोचय क्षिप्रमस्मत्प्रीतिकरं नृपम् ।। 17
Bhimasena, mighty-armed, the king has been captured by Susharma; rescue him quickly, set him free, for it will please us greatly.
उषिताः स्म सुखं सर्वे सर्वकामैः सुपूजिताः। भीमसेन त्वया कार्या तस्य वातस्य निष्कृतिः ।। 18
We have all lived here happily, honored with every comfort; Bhimasena, you must repay that debt to the wind-born king.
तं तथावादिनं तत्र भीमसेनो महाबलः। अभ्यभाषत दुर्धर्षो रणमध्ये युधिष्ठिरम् ।। 19
To him who spoke thus, Bhimasena, of great strength and unconquerable, replied to Yudhishthira in the midst of battle.
अहमेनं परित्रास्ये शासनात्तव पार्थिव। पश्येदं सुमहत्कर्म युध्यतो मम शत्रुभिः ।। 20
By your command, O king, I will rescue him; witness this great deed of mine as I fight the enemies.
स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य परेषामसमं रणे। एकान्तमाश्रितो राजंस्तिष्ठ त्वं भ्रातृभिः सह ।। 21
Relying on the strength of my own arms, unmatched by others in battle, I will go alone; you, O king, stay here with your brothers.
अयं वृक्षो महाशाखो गिरिमात्रो वनस्पतिः। अहमेनं समारुज्य पोथयिष्यामि शात्रवान् ।। 22
Here stands this great tree, with vast branches, as large as a mountain; mounting it, I will strike down the enemies.
तं मत्तमिव मातङ्गं वीक्षमाणं वनस्पतिम्। अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं वीरं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ।। 23
Seeing Bhima gazing at the tree like a maddened elephant, King Yudhishthira, lord of righteousness, spoke to his heroic brother.
भीम मा साहसं कार्षीस्तिष्ठत्वेष वनस्पतिः ।। 24
Bhima, do not act rashly; let this tree remain as it is.
मा त्वां वृक्षेण कर्माणि कुर्वन्तमतिमानुषम् । जनाः समवबुध्येरन्भीमोऽयमिति भारत ।। 25
Do not let people realize, O Bhima, that it is you, by performing superhuman deeds with that tree.
मा ग्रहीस्त्वमिमं वृक्षं सिंहनादं च मा नद। कर्मणा सिंहनादेन विज्ञास्यन्ति जना ध्रुवम् ।। 26
Do not seize this tree, nor let out a lion's roar; by such deeds and your roar, people will surely recognize you.
इमं वृक्षं गृहीत्वा त्वं नेमां सेनामभिद्रव । वृक्षं च त्वां रुजन्तं वै विज्ञास्यति जनो ध्रुवं ।। 27
If you seize this tree and attack the army, people will certainly know you by seeing you wielding the tree.
अन्यदेवायुधं गृह्य प्रतिपद्यस्व मानुषम्। चापं वा यदि वा शक्तिं निस्त्रिंशं वा परश्वथम् ।। 28
Take up some other weapon, a human one—either a bow, or a spear, or a sword, or an axe.
यदेव मानुषं भीम भवेदन्यैरलक्षितम् । तदेवायुधमादाय मोचयाशु महीतिम् ।। 29
Whatever weapon is human and not easily recognized by others, take that up, Bhima, and swiftly rescue the king.
यमौ च चक्ररक्षौ ते भवितारौ महाबलौ। व्यायच्छतस्ते समरे मत्स्यराजं परीप्स्रतः ।। 30
The two sons of Madri, mighty and skilled in chariot-fighting, will protect you in battle as you strive to rescue the king of the Matsyas.
भ्रातुर्वचनमादाय भीमो वृक्षं विसृज्य च। चापमादाय संप्राप्तो रथमास्थाय पाण्डवः ।। 31
Taking up his brother's command, Bhima released the tree, seized his bow, mounted the chariot, and approached.
व्यमुञ्चच्छरवर्षाणि सतोय इव तोयदः । तं भीमो भीमकर्माणं शुशर्माणमथाऽऽद्रवत् ।। 32
He unleashed showers of arrows like a raincloud with water; then Bhima, performer of terrible deeds, rushed at Susharma.
विराटमभिवीक्ष्यैनं तिष्ठितिष्ठेति चावदत् ।। 33
Looking at Virata, he called out to him, 'Stop, stop!'
सुशर्मा चिन्तयामास कालान्तकयमोपमम् । तिष्ठतिष्ठेति भाषन्तं पृष्ठतो रथपुङ्गवः ।। 34
Susharma, whose valor was like death at the end of time, pondered as the mighty charioteer behind him shouted, 'Stop, stop!'
पश्यतां सुमहत्कर्म महद्युद्धमुपस्थितम् । परावृत्तो धनुर्गृह्य सुशर्मा भ्रातृभिः सह ।। 35
Witnessing that great feat and the immense battle at hand, Susharma turned back, took up his bow, and stood with his brothers.
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भीमसेनेन ते रथाः । रथानां च गजानां च वाजिनां च ससादिनां ।। 36
In the blink of an eye, Bhimasena struck down the chariots, elephants, and horses with their riders.
सहस्रशतसंघाताः शूराणामुग्रधन्विनाम् । पातिता भीमसेनेन विराटस्य समीपतः ।। 37
Hundreds of thousands of groups of heroic, fierce archers were felled by Bhimasena near Virata.
पत्तयो निहतास्तेषां गदां गृह्य महात्मना ।। 38
The foot soldiers among them were slain by the great-souled one, wielding his mace.
तद्दृष्ट्वा तादृशं युद्धं सुशर्मा युद्धदुर्मदः। चिन्तयामास मनसा किं शेषं हि बलस्य मे ।। 39
Seeing such a battle, Susharma, intoxicated by war, thought to himself, 'What remains now of my army?'
अपरो दृश्यते सैन्ये पुरा मग्नो महाबले। आकर्णपूर्णेन तदा धनुषा प्रत्यदृश्यत ।। 40
Elsewhere in the army, another mighty warrior was seen, drawing his bow to his ear and standing firm.