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.
ततः समेत्य बहुभिस्तदा नागैर्महाविषैः। अदश्यत भृशं भीमो महादंष्ट्रैर्विपोल्बणैः
Then many great, venomous serpents gathered and fiercely bit Bhima with their huge, terrible fangs.
ततोऽस्य दश्यमानस्य तद्विषं कालकूटकम्। हतं सर्पविषेणैव स्थावरं जङ्गमेन तु
But as he was being bitten, that deadly Kālakūṭa poison was destroyed by the serpent venom, which is both immobile and mobile.
दंष्ट्राश्च दंष्ट्रिणां तेषां मर्मस्वपि निपातिताः। त्वचं नैवास्य बिभिदुः सारत्वात्पृथुवक्षसः
Though their fangs struck even his vital spots, they could not pierce his skin, for his broad chest was firm.
ततः प्रबुद्धः कौन्तेयः सर्वं संछिद्य बन्धनम्। पोथयामास तान्सर्पान्केचिद्भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः
Then the son of Kunti awoke, broke all his bonds, and began to strike those serpents; some, terrified, fled.
हतावशेषा भीमेन सर्वे वासुकिमभ्ययुः। ऊचुश्च सर्पराजानं वासुकिं वासवोपमम्
Those who survived Bhima's blows all went to Vāsuki, the king of serpents, who was like Indra.
अयं नरो वै नागरेन्द्र ह्यप्सु बद्ध्वा प्रवेशितः। यथा च नो मतिर्वीर विषपीतो भविष्यति
They said to the serpent king Vāsuki, 'O lord of serpents, this man was bound and cast into the water; as we think, he must have drunk poison.'
निश्चेष्टोऽस्माननुप्राप्तः स च दष्टोऽन्वबुध्यत। ससंज्ञश्चापि संवृत्तश्छित्त्वा बन्धनमाशु नः
'He came to us motionless, but after being bitten, he regained consciousness, broke our bonds, and now is aware.'
पोथयन्तं महाबाहुं त्वं वै तं ज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततो वासुकिरभ्येत्य नागैनुगतस्तदा
'You should know this mighty-armed one who is striking us.' Then Vāsuki, accompanied by the serpents, approached him.
पश्यति स्म महाबाहुं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्। आर्यकेण च दृष्टः स पृथाया आर्यकेण च
He beheld mighty-armed Bhima, whose valor was formidable; and he was seen by the noble elder and by Pritha's noble elder as well.
तदा दौहित्रदौहित्रः परिष्वक्तः सुपीडितम्। सुप्रीतश्चाभवत्तस्य वासुकिः स महायशाः
Then, the grandson and grandfather embraced tightly; Vasuki, renowned for his greatness, became exceedingly pleased with him.
अब्रवीत्तं च नागेन्द्रः किमस्य क्रियतां प्रियम्। धनौघो रत्ननिचयो वसु चास्य प्रदीयताम्
The king of serpents spoke: 'What favor should be done for him? Let a wealth of riches, a heap of jewels, and treasures be given to him.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा नागो वासुकिं प्रत्यभाषत। यदि नागेन्द्र तुष्टोऽसि किमस्य धनसंचयैः
Thus addressed, the serpent replied to Vasuki: 'If you are pleased, O king of serpents, what use are riches for him?'
रसं पिबेत्कुमारोऽयं त्वयि प्रीते महाबलः। बलं नागसहस्रस्य यस्मिन्कुण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम्
Let this powerful boy drink the elixir, since you are pleased; in that vessel is established the strength of a thousand serpents.
यावत्पिबति बालोऽयं तावदस्मै प्रदीयताम्। एवमस्त्विति तं नागं वासुकिः प्रत्यभाषत
As long as this boy drinks, let it be given to him; 'So be it,' Vasuki replied to the serpent.
ततो भीमस्तदा नागैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनः शुचिः। प्राङ्मुखश्चोपविष्टश्च रसं पिबति पाण्डवः
Then Bhima, purified and blessed by the serpents, sat facing east and drank the elixir, the son of Pandu.
एकोच्छ्वासात्ततः कुण्डं पिबति स्म महाबलः। एवमष्टौ स कुण्डानि ह्यपिबत्पाण्डुनन्दनः
With a single breath, the mighty one drank the vessel; thus, the son of Pandu drank eight vessels.
ततस्तु शयने दिव्ये नागदत्ते महाभुजः। अशेत भीमसेनस्तु यथासुखमरिंदमः
Then, upon a divine bed given by the serpents, the great-armed Bhimasena lay down comfortably, subduer of foes.
दुर्योधनस्तु पापात्मा भीममाशीविषहदे। प्रक्षिप्य कृतकृत्यं स्वमात्मानं मन्यते तदा
But Duryodhana, wicked in heart, having thrown Bhima into the deadly serpent's lair, considered himself accomplished.
प्रभातायां रजन्यां च प्रविवेश पुरं ततः। ब्रुवाणो भीमसेनस्तु यातो ह्यग्रत एव नः
When the night had passed and morning came, he entered the city, saying, 'Bhimasena has gone ahead of us.'
युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा ह्यविदन्पापमात्मनि। स्वेनानुमानेन परं साधुं समनुपश्यति
Yudhishthira, righteous in soul, suspected no evil in himself; by his own reasoning, he always saw the good in others.