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.
उदासीनो निरीक्षस्व न कार्यः संभ्रमस्त्वया। न जात्वयं पुनर्जीवेन्मद्बाह्वन्तरमागतः
Remain calm and watch, do not be alarmed. Never will this demon, once caught between my arms, escape alive.
भुजयोरन्तरं प्राप्तो भीमसेनस्य राक्षसः। अमृत्वा पार्थवीर्येण मृतो मा भूदिति ध्वनिः
The demon who has come between the arms of Bhimasena is as good as dead by Partha's strength; let there be no doubt.
अयमस्मांस्तु नो हन्याज्जातु पार्थ राक्षसः। जीवन्तं न प्रमोक्ष्यामि मा भैषीर्भरतर्षभ
This demon will never kill us, Partha. I will not release him alive; do not fear, bull among the Bharatas.
पूर्वरात्रे प्रयुक्तोऽसि भीम क्रूरेण रक्षसा। क्षपा व्युष्टा न चेदानीं समाप्तोसीन्महारणः
You were attacked earlier in the night, Bhima, by this cruel demon. If the night had not ended, this great battle would not yet be finished.
किमेनन चिरं भीम जीवता पापरक्षसा। गन्तव्ये न चिरं स्थातुमिह शक्यमरिन्दम
How long, Bhima, will this wicked demon remain alive? It is not possible for him to stay here much longer, O subduer of foes.
पुरा संरज्यते प्राची पुरा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते। रौद्रे मुहूर्ते रक्षांसि प्रबलानि भवन्त्युत
Before the east brightens, before the dawn appears, at this fierce hour, the demons become most powerful.
त्वरस्व भीम मा क्रीड जहि रक्षो विभीषणम्। पुरा विकुरुते मायां भुजयोः सारमर्पय
Hurry, Bhima, do not play; slay this terrible demon before he uses his magic—apply all your strength between your arms.
माहात्म्यमात्मनो वेत्थ नराणां हितकाम्यया। रक्षो जहि यथा शक्रः पुरा वृत्रं महाबलम्
You know your own greatness, wishing for the good of men. Slay the demon as Indra once slew the mighty Vritra.
अथवा मन्यसे भारं त्वमिमं राक्षसं युधि। आतिष्ठे तव साहाय्यं शीघ्रमेव तु हन्यताम्
Or, if you consider this demon too great a burden in battle, I will take your place and swiftly destroy him myself.
अथवा त्वहमेवैनं हनिष्यामि वृकोदर। कृतकर्मा परिश्रान्तः साधु तावदुपारम
Or else, Vrikodara, I myself will kill him. You have done your part and are weary—rest for now.