तच्चापि भुक्त्वाऽजरदॉयदविकारो वृकोदरः। विकारं नाभ्यजनयत्सुतीक्ष्णमपि तद्विषम्
Even after consuming that most potent poison, Vṛkodara was unaffected; he showed no change, though the poison was exceedingly strong.
भीमसंहननो भीमस्त्समादजरयद्विषम्। ततोऽन्यदिवसे राजन्हन्तुकामो वृकोदरम्
Bhima, whose body was like Bhima's, digested the poison with his strength; then, on another day, O King, Duryodhana again sought to kill Vṛkodara.
सौबलेन सहायेन धार्तराष्ट्रोऽभ्यचिन्तयत्। चिन्तयन्नालभन्निद्रां दिवारात्रमतन्द्रितः
With Saubala as his ally, Dhritarashtra’s son pondered; thinking ceaselessly, he found no sleep, day or night.
एवं दुर्योधनः कर्णः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। अनेकैरप्युपायैस्ताञ्जिघांसन्ति स्म पाण्डवान्
Thus Duryodhana, Karna, and also Shakuni, son of Subala, sought by many means to harm the Pandavas.
वैश्या पुत्रस्तदाचष्ट पार्थानां हितकाम्यया। पाण्डवा ह्यपि तत्सर्वं प्रत्यजानन्नरिन्दमाः। उद्भावनमकुर्वन्तो विदुरस्य मते स्थिताः
The son of a merchant then informed them, desiring the Pandavas’ welfare; but the Pandavas, aware of it all, O king, did not reveal it, remaining firm in Vidura’s counsel.
ततस्ते मन्त्रयामासुर्दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः। प्राणवान्विक्रमी चापि शौर्ये च महति स्थितः
Then, led by Duryodhana, those heroes deliberated, possessing vigor, courage, and steadfastness in great valor.
स्पर्धते चापि सततमस्मानेव वृकोदरः। तं तु सुप्तं पुरोद्याने जले शूले क्षिपामहे
Bhimasena always competes with us; let us cast him, while he sleeps in the garden, into the water upon a spear.
ततो जलविहारार्थं कारयामास भारत। प्रमाणकोट्यामुद्देशे स्थलं किंचिदुपेत्य ह
Then, for the sake of water-sport, O Bharata, they arranged a gathering at a certain spot on the bank, near the garden.
भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च पेयं च चोष्यं लेह्यमथापि च। उपपादितं नरैस्तत्र कुशलैः सूदकर्मणि
There, skilled cooks prepared food to eat, to enjoy, to drink, to suck, and to lick.
न्यवेदयंस्तत्पुरुषा धार्तराष्ट्राय वै तदा। ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र पाण्डवानाह दुर्मतिः
Those attendants then reported to Dhritarashtra’s son; and Duryodhana, evil-minded, addressed the Pandavas there.
गङ्गां चैवानुयास्याम उद्यानवनशोभिताम्। सहिता भ्रातरः सर्वे जलक्रीडामवाप्नुमः
Let us go together, all brothers, to the Ganga adorned with gardens and woods, and enjoy water-play.
एवमस्त्विति तं चापि प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः। ते रथैर्नगराकारैर्देशजैश्च गजोत्तमैः
‘So be it,’ replied Yudhishthira to him; then, with chariots shaped like cities and the finest local elephants,
निर्ययुर्नगराच्छूराः कौरवाः पाण्डवैः सह। उद्यानवनमासाद्य विसृज्य च महाजनम्
The Kaurava heroes departed from the city with the Pandavas; reaching the garden and forest, they dismissed the multitude.
विशन्ति स्म तदा वीराः सिंहा इव गिरेर्गुहाम्। उद्यानमभिपश्यन्तो भ्रातरः सर्व एव ते
Then those warriors entered, like lions into a mountain cave, all the brothers gazing upon the garden.
उपस्थानगृहैः शुभ्रैर्वलभीभिश्च शोभितम्। गवाक्षकैस्तथा जालैर्यन्त्रैः सांचारिकैरपि
It was adorned with splendid reception halls and pavilions, with windows, lattices, and mechanical devices.
संमार्जितं सौधकारैश्चित्रकारैश्च चित्रितम्। दीर्घिकाभिश्च पूर्णाभिस्तथा पुष्करिणीषु च
It was swept clean by palace servants, decorated by artists, and filled with pools and lotus ponds.
जलं तच्छुशुभे च्छन्नं फुल्लैर्जलरुहैस्तथा। उपच्छन्ना वसुमती तथा पुष्पैर्यथर्तुकैः
The water shone, covered with blooming aquatic plants; the earth likewise was adorned with flowers of every season.
तत्रोपविष्टास्ते सर्वे पाण्डवाः कौरवाश्च ह। उपच्छन्नान्बहून्कामांस्ते भुञ्जन्ति ततस्ततः
There all the Pandavas and Kauravas sat, enjoying many desired pleasures, concealed from view.
अथोद्यानवरे तस्मिंस्तथा क्रीडागताश्चते। परस्परस्य वक्त्रेषु ददुर्भक्ष्यांस्ततस्ततः
Then, as they played in that excellent garden, they fed each other with delicacies, one to another.
ततो दुर्योधनः पापस्तद्भक्ष्ये कालकूटकम्। विषं प्रक्षेपयामास भीमसेनजिघांसया
Then Duryodhana, wicked, mixed deadly poison into the food, intending to kill Bhimasena.
स्वयमुत्थाय चैवाथ हृदयेन क्षुरोपमः। स वाचाऽमृतकल्पश्च भ्रातृवच्च सुहृद्यथा
He would rise up himself, sharp as a razor in mind, yet his speech was like nectar, and he was as affectionate as a brother and a true friend.
स्वयं प्रक्षिपते भक्ष्यं बहु भीमस्य पाकृत्। प्रभक्षितं च भीमेन तं वै दोषमजानता
He himself would place much food, prepared for Bhima, and Bhima, unaware of any fault, ate what was given.
ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र हृदयेन हसन्निव। कृतकृत्यमीवात्मानं मन्यते पुरुषाधमः
Then Duryodhana, with a heart as if laughing, considered himself accomplished, though he was the lowest of men.
ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे जलक्रीडामकुर्वत। पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च तदा मुदितमानसाः
After that, all of them together—Pāṇḍavas and Dhārtarāṣṭras—happily engaged in water play.
विहारावसथेष्वेव वीरा वासमरोचयन्। भीमस्तु बलवान्भुक्त्वा व्यायामाभ्यधिकं जले
In those pleasure houses, the heroes chose their lodgings; but Bhima, being strong, after eating, exerted himself even more in the water.
वाहयित्वा कुमारांस्ताञ्जलक्रीडागतांस्तदा। प्रमाणकोट्यां वासार्थी सुष्वापावाप्य तत्स्थलम्
Having carried those princes who had come for water games, Bhima, seeking rest at the edge, fell asleep upon reaching that place.
शीतं वातं समासाद्य श्रान्तो मदविमोहितः। विषेण च परीताङ्गो निश्चेष्टः पाण्डुनन्दनः
Exposed to the cold wind, exhausted and stupefied by poison, the son of Pāṇḍu became motionless, his body overcome.
ततो बद्ध्वा लतापाशैर्भीमं दुर्योधनः स्वयम्। `शूलान्यप्सु निखायाशु प्रादेशाभ्यन्तराणि च
Then Duryodhana himself tied Bhima with creeper cords, and quickly drove stakes into the water at intervals.
लतापाशैर्दृढं बद्धं स्थलाज्जलमपातयत्। सशेषत्वान्न संप्राप्तो जले शूलिनि पाण्डवः
Firmly bound with creeper cords, he cast Bhima from the land into the water; but the Pāṇḍava did not reach the stakes in the water, due to fate.
पपात यत्र तत्रास्य शूलं नासीद्यदृच्छया।' स निःसंज्ञो जलस्यान्तमवाग्वै पाण्डवोऽविशत्। आक्रामन्नागभवने तदा नागकुमारकान्
Wherever he fell, there happened to be no stake by chance; unconscious, the Pāṇḍava entered the depths of the water, where he encountered the serpent youths in their abode.