कुरूणामनयाच्चापि पृथिवी न भविष्यति। गच्छ त्वं योगमास्थाय युक्ता वस तपोवने
Because of the misfortune of the Kurus, the earth will not endure. Go, take up yoga, and dwell in the forest, devoted to austerity.
माद्राक्षीस्त्वं कुलस्यास्य घोरं संक्षयमात्मनः। तथेति समनुज्ञाय सा प्रविश्याब्रवीत्स्नुषाम्
Do not witness the terrible destruction of this family, nor your own. Having agreed, she entered and spoke to her daughter-in-law.
अम्बिक तव पौत्रस्य दुर्नयात्किल भारताः। सानुबन्धा विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति पौराश्चैवेति नः श्रुतम्
Ambika, it is said that because of your grandson's misrule, the Bharatas and their allies, as well as the townsfolk, will perish—so we have heard.
तत्कौसल्यामिमामार्तां पुत्रशोकाभिपीडिताम्। वनमादाय भद्रं ते गच्छावो यदि मन्यसे
Therefore, let us, if you agree, take this Kausalya, who is afflicted and tormented by grief for her son, and go to the forest. May it be well for you.
तथेत्युक्ता त्वम्बिकया भीष्ममामन्त्र्य सुव्रता। वनं ययौ सत्यवती स्नुषाभ्यां सह भारत
Having been addressed thus by Ambika, the virtuous Satyavati, after bidding farewell to Bhishma, went to the forest with her daughters-in-law, O Bharata.
ताः सुघोरं तपस्तप्त्वा देव्यो भरतसत्तम।। देहं त्यक्त्वा महाराज गतिमिष्टां ययुस्तदा
Having performed severe austerities, those royal ladies, O best of the Bharatas, abandoned their bodies and attained the desired state, O great king.
अथाप्तवन्तो वेदोक्तान्संस्कारान्पाण्डवास्तदा। संव्यवर्धन्त भोगांस्ते भुञ्जानाः पितृवेश्मनि
Then, having completed the rites prescribed in the Vedas, the Pandavas grew up, enjoying pleasures in their father's house.
धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च सहिताः क्रीडन्तो मुदिताः सुखम्। बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु विशिष्टास्तेजसाऽभवन्
Together with the sons of Dhritarashtra, they played joyfully and happily, excelling in all childhood games through their brilliance.
जवे लक्ष्याभिहरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे। धार्तराष्ट्रान्भीमसेनः सर्वान्स परिमर्दति
In running, target-hitting, eating, and dragging in the sand, Bhimasena would overpower all the sons of Dhritarashtra.
हर्षात्प्रक्रीडमानांस्तान् गृह्य राजन्निलीयते। शिरःसु विनिगृह्यैतान्योजयामास पाण्डवैः
Out of delight, he would seize those who were playing, O King, and, grasping their heads, he would make them join the Pandavas.
शतमेकोत्तरं तेषां कुमाराणां महौजसाम्। एक एव निगृह्णाति नातिकृच्छ्राद्वृकोदरः
Among those mighty princes, Vrikodara alone would subdue a hundred and one, and not with much difficulty.
कचेषु च निगृह्यैनान्विनिहत्य बलाद्बली। चकर्ष क्रोशतो भूमौ घृष्टजानुशिरोंसकान्
Grabbing them by their hair, he would strike them forcefully, and drag them across the ground as they cried out, their knees and heads scraped.
दश बालाञ्जले क्रीडन्भुजाभ्यां परिगृह्य सः। आस्ते स्म सलिले मग्नो मृतकल्पान्विमुञ्चति
Playing with ten boys at once, he would hold them with his arms, remain submerged in water, and release them as if lifeless.
फलानि वृक्षमारुह्य विचिन्वन्ति च ये तदा। तदा पादप्रहारेण भीमः कम्पयते द्रुमान्
When some climbed trees to search for fruits, Bhima would shake the trees with a blow, causing them to tremble.
प्रहारवेगाभिहता द्रुमा व्याघूर्णितास्ततः। सफलाः प्रपतन्ति स्म द्रुमात्स्रस्ताः कुमारकाः
Struck by the force of his blows, the trees would whirl, and the fruits would fall, while the princes slipped from the branches.
केचिद्भग्नशिरोरस्काः केचिद्भग्नकटीमुखाः। निपेतुर्भ्रातरः सर्वे भीमसेनभुजार्दिताः
Some brothers fell with broken heads and shoulders, others with broken hips and faces, all overcome by Bhimasena's strength.
न ते नियुद्धे न जवे न योग्यासु कदाचन। कुमारा उत्तरं चक्रुः स्पर्धमाना वृकोदरम्
In wrestling, running, or any contest, the princes never surpassed Vrikodara, though they competed against him.
एवं स धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च स्पर्धमानो वृकोदरः। अप्रियेऽतिष्ठदत्यन्तं बाल्यान्न द्रोहचेतसा
Thus, Vrikodara, competing with the sons of Dhritarashtra, behaved extremely unpleasantly, not out of malice but from childishness.
ततो बलमतिख्यातं धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। भीमसेनस्य तज्ज्ञात्वा दुष्टभावमदर्शयत्
Then, the powerful Dhritarashtra's son, knowing Bhimasena's renowned strength, began to harbor evil intentions.
तस्य धर्मादपेतस्य पापानि परिपश्यतः। मोहादैश्वर्यलोभाच्च पापा मतिरजायत
Observing his unrighteous conduct and many wicked acts, blinded by greed for power, evil thoughts arose in his mind.
अयं बलवतां श्रेष्ठः कुन्तीपुत्रो वृकोदरः। मध्यमः कुन्तिपुत्राणां निकृत्या सन्निगृह्यतां
This Vrikodara, son of Kunti, is the foremost among the strong; let him, the middle Kunti son, be subdued by deceit.
प्राणवान्विक्रमी चैव शौर्येण महताऽन्वितः। स्पर्धते चापि सहितानस्मानेको वृकोदरः
He is vigorous, courageous, endowed with great valor, and alone competes with us all, this Vrikodara.
तं तु सुप्तं पुरोद्याने गङ्गायां प्रक्षिपामहे। अथ तस्मादवरजं श्रेष्ठं चैव युधिष्ठिरम्
Let us throw him, while he sleeps, into the Ganga in the palace garden; then we shall seize Yudhishthira, the eldest and best.
प्रसह्य बन्धने बद्ध्वा प्रशासिष्ये वसुन्धराम्। एवं स निश्चयं पापः कृत्वा दुर्योधनस्तदा। नित्यमेवान्तरप्रेक्षी भीमस्यासीन्महात्मनः
By forcibly binding him, I will rule the earth; thus, Duryodhana made this wicked resolve, always watching Bhima, the great-souled.
ततो जलविहारार्थं कारयामास भारत। चैलकम्बलवेश्मानि विचित्राणि महान्ति च
Then, O Bharata, for the sake of water sports, he had built splendid and varied pavilions of cloth and wool.
सर्वकामैः सुपूर्णानि पताकोच्छ्रायवन्ति च। तत्र संजनयामास नानागाराण्यनेकशः
They were filled with every pleasure and adorned with tall banners; there he arranged many different kinds of houses.
उदकक्रीडनं नाम कारयामास भारत। प्रमाणकोट्यां तं देशं स्थलं किंचिदुपेत्यह
He organized what was called a water festival, O Bharata, having chosen a certain spot on the bank at the edge of the region.
क्रीडावसाने ते सर्वे शुचिवस्त्राः स्वलङ्कृताः। सर्वकामसमृद्धं तदन्नं बुभुजिरे शनैः
At the end of their play, all of them, dressed in clean garments and well adorned, slowly enjoyed food rich in every delight.
दिवसान्ते परिश्रान्ता विहृत्य च कुरूद्वहाः। विहारावसथेष्वेव वीरा वासमरोचयन्
At the end of the day, exhausted after their enjoyment, the foremost of the Kurus chose to rest in the pleasure houses.
खिन्नस्तु बलवान्भीमो व्यायामाभ्यधिकस्तदा। वाहयित्वा कुमारांस्ताञ्जलक्रीडागतान्विभुः
But Bhima, strong and vigorous, having exerted himself more than the others, carried the princes who had come for water games.