अहं हि समये लप्स्ये प्राग्भ्रातुरपर्वजनात्। ततः सोऽभ्यपतद्रात्रौ भीमसेनजिघांसया
I will obtain him at the appointed time from his elder brother or another relative; then, at night, he approached with the intent to kill Bhimasena.
यथायथा विक्रमते यथारिमधितिष्ठति। तथातथा समासाद्य पाण्डवं काममोहिता
As he advanced and confronted his enemy, so I, overcome by desire, approached the Pandava.
न यातुधान्यहं त्वार्ये न चास्मि रजनीचरी। ईशा रक्षस्स्वसा ह्यस्मि राज्ञि सालकटङ्कटी
O noble lady, I am not a rakshasi nor a night-wandering spirit; I am the sister of the ruler of the rakshasas, Sālakaṭaṅkaṭa, O queen.
पुत्रेण तव संयुक्ता युवतिर्देववर्णिनी। सर्वान्वोऽहमुपस्थास्ये पुरस्कृत्य वृकोदरम्
Joined with your son, O youthful one of divine complexion, I will serve you all, placing Vrikodara at the forefront.
अप्रमत्ता प्रमत्तेषु शुश्रूषुरसकृत्त्वहम्।' वृजिने तारयिष्यामि दासीवच्च नरर्षभाः
I will be attentive among the inattentive, always eager to serve; I will rescue the righteous as a servant, O best of men.
पृष्ठेन वो वहिष्यामि विमानं सुकृतानिव। यूयं प्रसादं कुरुत भीमसेनो भजेत माम्
I will carry you upon my back as if you were virtuous souls in a celestial chariot; please show me favor, so that Bhimasena may accept me.
एवं ब्रुवन्ती ह तथा प्रत्याख्याता क्रियां प्रति। भूम्यां दुष्कृतिनो लोकान्गमिष्येऽहं न संशयः
Thus speaking, when rejected regarding her request, she said: I will go to the worlds of the wicked upon the earth, there is no doubt.
अहं हि मनसा ध्यात्वा सर्वं वेत्स्यामि सर्वदा।' आपन्निस्तरणे प्राणान्धारयिष्ये न केनचित्
I will always know everything by contemplating in my mind; when in distress, I will sustain my life, not by anyone else.
सर्वमावृत्य कर्तव्यं धर्मं समनुपश्यता। आपत्सु यो धारयति स वै धर्मविदुत्तमः
One must fulfill all duties, considering righteousness; he who sustains himself in adversity is indeed the foremost knower of dharma.
व्यसनं ह्येव धर्मस्य धर्मिणामापदुच्यते। पुम्यात्प्राणान्धारयति पुण्यं वै प्राणधारणम्
Calamity is indeed the adversity of dharma; for the righteous, adversity is called misfortune. He who preserves his life in adversity gains merit.
येन केनाचरेद्धर्मं तस्मिन्गर्हा न विद्यते। `महतोऽत्र स्त्रियं कामाद्वाधितां त्राहि मामपि
One may practice righteousness by any means; there is no blame in that. Save me also, who am afflicted by desire, as you would a woman in great distress.
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेषु दयां कुर्वन्ति साधवः। तत्तु धर्ममिति प्राहुर्मुनयो धर्मवत्सलाः
The virtuous show compassion in matters of dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation; the sages devoted to dharma declare this to be righteousness.
दिव्यज्ञानेन जानामि व्यतीतानागतानहम्। तस्माद्वक्ष्यामि वः श्रेय आसन्नं सर उत्तमम्
By divine knowledge I know the past and the future; therefore I will tell you what is best—the excellent lake is near.
अद्यासाद्य सरः स्नात्वा विश्रम्य च वनस्पतौ। श्वः प्रभाते महद्भूतं प्रादुर्भूतं जगत्पतिम्
Today, after reaching the lake, bathe and rest beneath the tree; tomorrow at dawn, a great and wondrous being, the lord of the world, will appear.
व्यासं कमलपत्राक्षं दृष्ट्वा शोकं विहास्यथ। धार्तराष्ट्राद्विवासं च दहनं वारणावते
When you see Vyāsa, lotus-eyed, you will cast off your sorrow, and the exile from the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and the burning at Vāraṇāvata.
त्राणं च विदुरात्तुभ्यं विदितं ज्ञानचक्षुषा। आवासे शालिहोत्रस्य स वो वासं विधास्यति
Vidura has arranged protection for you, as known by the eye of knowledge; at the dwelling of Śālihotra, he will provide you shelter.
वर्षवातातपसहो ह्ययं पुण्यो वनस्पतिः। पीतमात्रे तु पानीये क्षुत्पिपासे विनश्यतः
This sacred tree endures rain, wind, and sun; once you have drunk water, hunger and thirst will vanish.
तपसा शालिहोत्रेण सरो वृक्षश्च निर्मितः। कादम्बाः सारसा हंसाः कुरर्यः कुररैः सह
By the austerity of Śālihotra, the lake and the tree were created; kādamba birds, cranes, swans, and kuraras with their mates are there.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कुन्ती वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing her words, Kuntī spoke these words.
त्वं हि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो मयोक्तं शृणु भारत
You are indeed the best among the righteous; listen to what I say, O Bhārata.
राक्षस्येषा हि वाक्येन धर्मं वदति साधु वै। भावेन दुष्टा भीमं वै किं करिष्यति राक्षसी
By the words of this rākṣasī, true dharma is spoken; though evil in intent, what can the rākṣasī do to Bhīma?
एवमेतद्यथाऽऽत्थ त्वं हिडिम्बे नात्र संशयः
So it is, as you have said, Hiḍimbā; there is no doubt in this.
स्थातव्यं तु त्वया धर्मे यथा ब्रूयां सुमध्यमे। `नित्यं कृताह्निका स्नाता कृतशौचा सुरूपिणी
But you must abide by dharma, as I instruct, O slender-waisted one: always perform your daily rites, bathe, keep yourself pure, and remain beautiful.
स्नातं कृताह्निकं भद्रे कृतकौतुकमङ्गलम्। भीमसेनं भजेथास्त्वमुदिते वै दिवाकरे
Having bathed and performed your daily rites, and adorned yourself with auspicious ornaments, you shall approach Bhīmasena when the sun has risen.
अहस्सु विहरानेन यथाकामं मनोजवा। अयं त्वानयितव्यस्ते भीमसेनः सदा निशि
During the day, roam with him as you wish, swift one; but at night, Bhīmasena must always be brought back.
प्राक्सन्ध्यातो विमोक्तव्यो रक्षितव्यश्च नित्यशः। एवं रमस्व भीमेन यावद्गर्भस्य वेदनम्
Before dawn, you must release him and always protect him; thus, enjoy with Bhīma until you feel the signs of pregnancy.
एष ते समयो भद्रे शुश्रूषा चाप्रमत्तया। नित्यानुकूलया भूत्वा कर्तव्यं शोभनं त्वया
This is your agreement, good lady; with attentive service and constant goodwill, you must act properly.
युधिष्ठिरवचः श्रुत्वा कुन्तीमङ्गेऽधिरोप्य सा। भीमार्जुनान्तरगता यमाभ्यां च पुरस्कृता
Having heard Yudhiṣṭhira’s words, she placed Kuntī on her hip, with Bhīma and Arjuna between, and led by the twins.
तिर्यग्युधिष्ठिरे याति हिडिम्बा भीमगामिनी। शालिहोत्रसरो रम्यमाससाद जलार्थिनी
Hiḍimbā, who moved with Bhīma, went beside Yudhiṣṭhira and, desiring water, reached the delightful lake of Śālihotra.
वनस्पतितलं गत्वा परिमृज्य गृहं यथा। पाण्डवानां च वासं सा कृत्वा पर्णमयं तथा
Having gone beneath the tree, she cleaned the ground as one would a house, and made a leaf-hut for the Pāṇḍavas to dwell in.