भङूक्त्वा वृक्षान्महाशाखांस्ताडयामासतुः क्रुधा। सालतालतमालाम्रवटार्जुनविभीतकान्
Breaking off great-branched trees in their fury, they struck each other with sāla, tāla, tamāla, mango, vaṭa, arjuna, and vibhītaka trees.
न्यग्रोधप्लक्षखर्जूरपनसानश्मकण्टकान्। एतानन्यान्महावृक्षानुत्खाय तरसाऽखिलान्
They also tore up banyan, plakṣa, date, jackfruit, aśmaka, and thorny trees, and with force uprooted all the other great trees as well.
उत्क्षिप्यान्योन्यरोषेण ताडयामासतू रणे। यदाऽभवद्वनं सर्वं निर्वृक्षं वृक्षसङ्कुलम्
In mutual wrath, they hurled these at each other in battle, until the entire forest, once dense with trees, became stripped bare.
तदा शिलाश्च कुञ्जांश्च वृक्षान्कण्टकिनस्तथा। ततस्तौ गिरिशृङ्गाणि पर्वतांश्चाभ्रलेलिहान्
Then rocks, thickets, and thorny trees—after that, they hurled mountain peaks and even mountains that seemed to lick the clouds.
शैलांश्च गण्डपाषाणानुत्खायादाय वैरिणौ। चिक्षेपतुरुपर्याजावन्योन्यं विजयेषिणौ
The two enemies, uprooting boulders and rocks, seized them and hurled them at each other, both striving for victory.
तद्वनं परितः पञ्चयोजनं निर्महीरुहम्। निर्लतागुल्मपाषाणं निर्मृगं चक्रतुर्भृशम्
That forest, for five yojanas all around, they made utterly treeless, without creepers, bushes, rocks, or animals.
तयोर्युद्धेन राजेन्द्र तद्वनं भीमरक्षसोः। मुहूर्तेनाभवत्कूमर्पृष्ठवच्छ्लक्ष्णमव्ययम्
By the battle of those two—O king—the forest of Bhīma and the rākṣasa, in a moment, became smooth and even like the surface of a child's plaything.
ऊरुबाहुपरिक्लेशात्कर्षन्तावितरेतरम्। उत्कर्षन्तौ विकर्षन्तौ प्रकर्षन्तौ परस्परम्
From the strain on their thighs and arms, each dragged and pulled the other, striving and exerting themselves against one another.
तौ स्वनेन विना राजन्गर्जन्तौ च परस्परम्। पाषाणसंघट्टनिभैः प्रहारैरभिजघ्नतुः
Without any other sound, O king, the two roared at each other, striking with blows like the clash of stones.
अन्योन्यं च समालिङ्ग्य विकर्षन्तौ परस्परम्। बाहुयुद्धमभूद्धोरं बलिवासवयोरिव। युद्धसंरम्भनिर्गच्छत्फूत्काररवनिस्वनम्
Embracing and wrestling each other, they engaged in a fierce contest of arms, like Bali and Indra, their battle cries and roars resounding from the fury of combat.
तयोः शब्देन महता विबुद्धास्ते नरर्षभाः। सह मात्रा च ददृशुर्हिडिम्बामग्रतःस्थिताम्
Awakened by their great noise, those foremost of men, together with their mother, saw Hiḍimbā standing before them.
प्रबुद्धास्ते हिडिम्बाया रूपं दृष्ट्वातिमानुषम्। विस्मिताः पुरुषव्याघ्रा बभूवुः पृथया सह
Having awakened and seen Hiḍimbā's form, which was beyond human, the tiger-like men, along with Pṛthā, became astonished.
ततः कुन्ती समीक्ष्यैनां विस्मिता रूपसंपदा। उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं शैनः
Then Kuntī, beholding her and amazed by her beauty, spoke these gentle words, first offering reassurance.
कस्य त्वं सुरगर्भाभे कावाऽसि वरवर्णिनि। केन कार्येण संप्राप्ता कुतश्चागमनं तव
Who are you, O one with a divine appearance? Whose daughter are you, O fair-complexioned lady? For what purpose have you come, and from where have you arrived?
यदि वाऽस्य वनस्य त्वं देवता यदि वाऽप्सराः। आचक्ष्व मम तत्सर्वं किमर्थं चेह तिष्ठसि
If you are a goddess of this forest, or perhaps an apsaras, tell me everything—why do you stand here?
यदेतत्पश्यसि वनं नीलमेघनिं महत्। निवासो राक्षसस्यैष हिडिम्बस्य ममैव च
This vast forest you see, dark as a rain cloud, is the dwelling of the rākṣasa Hiḍimba, and mine as well.
तस्य मां राक्षसेन्द्रस्य भगिनीं विद्दि भामिनि। भ्रात्रा संप्रेषितामार्ये त्वां सपुत्रां जिघांसता
Know me, O beautiful lady, as the sister of that rākṣasa lord, sent here by my brother, who seeks to kill you and your sons.
क्रूरबुद्धेरहं तस्य वचनादागता त्विह। अद्राक्षं नवहेमाभं तव पुत्रं महाबलम्
At his command, I, though he is cruel-minded, came here; but I saw your son, shining like new gold, mighty in strength.
ततोऽहं सर्वभूतानां भावे विचरता शुभे। चोदिता तव पुत्रार्थं मन्मथेन वशानुगा
Then, O noble lady, as I moved among all beings, I was overcome by desire for your son, impelled by love.
ततो वृतो मया भर्ता तव पुत्रो महाबलः। अपनेतुं च यतितो न चैव शकितो मया
Therefore, I chose your mighty son as my husband, and though I tried to turn away, I was unable to do so.
चिरायमाणां मां ज्ञात्वा ततः स पुरुषादकः। स्वयमेवागतो हन्तुमिमान्सर्वांस्तवात्मजान्
Realizing that I was delaying, that man-eater himself came to slay all your sons.
स तेन मम कान्तेन तव पुत्रेण धीमता। बलादितो विनिष्पिष्य व्यपनीतो महात्मना
But by your beloved, your wise son, he was overpowered by strength and cast aside by the great-souled one.
विकर्षन्तौ महावेगौ गर्जमानौ परस्परम्। पश्यैवं युधि विक्रान्तावेतौ च नरराक्षसौ
See, these two—man and rākṣasa—of great speed, dragging each other and roaring, are fighting valiantly.
तस्याः श्रुत्वैव वचनमुत्पपात युधिष्ठिरः। अर्जुनो नकुलश्चैव सहदेवश्च वीर्यवान्
Hearing her words, Yudhiṣṭhira, Arjuna, Nakula, and the mighty Sahadeva sprang up.
तौ ते ददृशुरासक्तौ विकर्षन्तौ परस्परम्। काङ्क्षमाणौ जयं चैव सिंहाविव बलोत्कटौ
They saw those two, locked together, dragging each other, both eager for victory, fierce as lions in strength.
अथान्योन्यं समाश्लिष्य विकर्षन्तौ पुनःपुनः। दावाग्निधूमसदृशं चक्रतुः पार्थिवं रजः
Then, as they repeatedly grappled and dragged each other, they raised a dust cloud like the smoke of a forest fire.
वसुधारेणुसंवीतौ वसुधाधरसन्निभौ। बभ्राजतुर्यथा शैलौ नीहारेणाभिसंवृतौ
Covered in earth's dust, resembling the mountains themselves, they shone like two peaks veiled in mist.
राक्षसेन तदा भीमं क्लिश्यमानं निरीक्ष्य च। उवाचेदं वचः पार्थः प्रहसञ्छनकैरिव
Seeing Bhīma being harassed by the rākṣasa, Pārtha spoke these words, smiling slightly.
भीम माभैर्महाबाहो न त्वां बुध्यामहे वयम्। समेतं भीमरूपेण रक्षसा श्रमकर्शिताः
Bhima, do not be afraid, mighty-armed one. We do not recognize you, exhausted as we are, whether you are Bhima himself or a demon in Bhima's form.
साहाय्येऽस्मि स्थितः पार्थ पातयिष्यामि राक्षसम्। नकुलः सहदेवश्च मातरं गोपयिष्यतः
I stand ready to assist you, Partha; I will bring down this demon. Nakula and Sahadeva will protect our mother.