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.
सोऽभ्युपेत्य तदा पार्थो मातरं भ्रातृवत्सलः। अभिवाद्याब्रवीत्कुन्तीमम्ब भीम इहागतः
Then Partha, affectionate toward his brothers, approached his mother, greeted her, and said, 'Mother Kunti, Bhima has come here.'
क्व गतो भविता मातर्नेह पश्यामि तं शुभे। उद्यानानि वनं चैव विचितानि समन्ततः
Where has he gone, Mother? I do not see him here, O auspicious one; I have searched the gardens and the forest everywhere.
तदर्थं न च तं वीरं दृष्टवन्तो वृकोदरम्। मन्यमानास्ततः सर्वे यातो नः पूर्वमेव सः
For that reason, none of us have seen the hero Vrikodara; thinking thus, all believed he had gone ahead of us.
आगताः स्म महाभागे व्याकुलेनान्तरात्मना। इहागम्य क्व नु गतस्त्वया वा प्रेषितः क्व नु
We have arrived, O blessed one, with troubled hearts; having come here, where has he gone, or was he sent by you, where indeed?
कथयस्व महाबाहुं भीमसेनं यशस्विनि। नहि मे शुध्यते भावस्तं वीरं प्रति शोभने
Tell us, O illustrious one, about mighty-armed Bhimasena; my mind is not at ease concerning that hero, O beautiful one.
यतः प्रसुप्तं मन्येऽहं भीम् नेति हतस्तु सः। इत्युक्ता च ततः कुन्ती धर्मराजेन धीमता
Since I think he was sleeping, Bhima is not here; surely he has been killed.' Thus Kunti was addressed by the wise king of dharma.
हाहेति कृत्वा संभ्रान्ता प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम्। न पुत्र भीमं पश्यामि न मामभ्येत्यसाविति
Crying out in distress, she anxiously said to Yudhishthira: 'My son, I do not see Bhima, he has not come to me.'
शीघ्रमन्वेषणे यत्नं कुरु तस्यानुजैः सह। द्रुतं गत्वा पुरोद्यानं विचिन्वन्तिस्म पाण्डवाः
Quickly make every effort to search for him, together with his younger brothers; the Pandavas hurried to the royal gardens and began searching.
भीमभीमेति ते वाचा पाण्डवाः समुदैरयन्। विचिन्वन्तोऽथ ते सर्वे न स्म पश्यन्ति भ्रातरम्
Calling out 'Bhima! Bhima!' the Pandavas raised their voices; searching everywhere, they still could not see their brother.
आगताः स्वगृहं भूय इदमूचुः पृथां तदा। न दृश्यते महाबाहुरम्ब भीमो वने चितः
Returning again to their home, they said this to Pritha: 'Mother, the mighty-armed Bhima is not seen anywhere in the gardens.'
विचितानि च सर्वाणि ह्युद्यानानि नदीस्तथा
All the gardens and even the rivers have been thoroughly searched.
उवाच बलवान्क्षत्तर्भीमसेनो न दृश्यते
The powerful Kshatta (Vidura) said: 'Bhimasena is not to be seen.'
उद्यानान्निर्गताः सर्वे भ्रातरो भ्रातृभिः सह। तत्रैकस्तु महाबाहुर्भीमो नाभ्येति मामिह
All the brothers have come out of the gardens together with their siblings; but here, the mighty-armed Bhima alone does not return to me.
न च प्रीणयते चक्षुः सदा दुर्योधनस्य सः। क्रूरोऽसौ दुर्मतिः क्षुद्रो राज्यलुब्धोऽनपत्रपः
He never pleases the eye of Duryodhana; that one is cruel, evil-minded, petty, greedy for the kingdom, and shameless.
निहन्यादपि तं वीरं जातमन्युः सुयोधनः। तेन मे व्याकुलं चित्तं हृदयं दह्यतीव च
If angered, Suyodhana (Duryodhana) might even kill that heroic one; because of this, my mind is troubled and my heart feels as if it burns.
मैवं वदस्व कल्याणि शेषसंरक्षणं कुरु। प्रत्यादिष्टो हि दुष्टात्मा शेषेऽपि प्रहरेत्तव
Do not speak so, O noble lady; protect the rest of your sons. For that wicked-hearted one, even when warned, might attack your remaining children.
दीर्घायुषस्तव सुता यथोवाच महामुनिः। आगमिष्यति ते पुत्रः प्रीतिं चोत्पादयिष्यति
Your sons are destined for long life, as the great sage has said; your son will return and bring you joy.
एवमुक्त्वा ययौ विद्वान्विदुरः स्वं निवेशनम्। कुन्ती चिन्तापरा भूत्वा सहासीना सुतैर्गृहे
Having spoken thus, the wise Vidura went to his own residence; Kunti, filled with anxiety, sat at home with her sons.
ततोऽष्टमे तु दिवसे प्रत्यबुध्यत पाण्डवः। तस्मिंस्तदा रसे जीर्णे सोऽप्रमेयबलो बली
Then, on the eighth day, the Pandava awoke; his strength beyond measure, he had now digested that potion.
तं दृष्ट्वा प्रतिबुध्यन्तं पाण्डवं ते भुजङ्गमाः। सान्त्वयामासुरव्यग्रा वचनं चेदमब्रुवन्
Seeing the Pandava awaken, the serpents, anxious, comforted him and spoke these words: