आत्मनश्च तथा कुन्त्या एकोद्देशे चकार सा। पाण्डवास्तु ततः स्नात्वा शुद्धाः सन्ध्यामुपास्य च
Kunti also performed her ablutions separately, and after bathing and worshipping at twilight, the Pandavas became purified.
तृषिताः क्षुत्पिपासार्ता जलमात्रेण वर्तयन्। शालिहोत्रस्ततो ज्ञात्वा क्षुधार्तान्पाण्डवांस्तदा
Afflicted by thirst and hunger, they sustained themselves with only water; then Śālihotra, seeing the Pandavas tormented by hunger,
मनसा चिन्तयामास पानीयं भोजनं महत्। ततस्ते पाण्डवाः सर्वे विश्रान्ताः पृथया सह
began to contemplate in his mind about obtaining water and abundant food; then all the Pandavas, together with Pritha, rested.
यथा जतुगृहे वृत्तं राक्षसेन कृतं च यत्। कृत्वा कथा बहुविधाः कथान्ते पाण्डुनन्दनम्
They recounted in detail the events at the house of lac and the deeds of the rakshasa, and after many such stories, the son of Pandu,
कुन्ती राजसुता वाक्यं भीमसेनमथाब्रवीत्। यथा पाण्डुस्तथा मान्यस्तव ज्येष्ठो युधिष्ठिरः
Kunti, the royal mother, then spoke to Bhimasena: 'Just as your father Pandu is to be honored, so too is your elder brother Yudhishthira.'
अहं धर्मविदाऽनेन मान्या गुरुतरा तव। तस्मात्पाण्डुहितार्थं मे युवराज हितं कुरु
'By this knower of dharma, I am to be honored even more than you; therefore, for the sake of the Pandu lineage, do what is beneficial for the crown prince.'
निकृता धार्तराष्ट्रेण पापेनाकृतबुद्धिना। दुष्कृतस्य प्रतीकारं न पश्यामि वृकोदर
'We have been wronged by Duryodhana, who is sinful and of evil intent; O Vrikodara, I do not see any remedy for his wickedness.'
तस्मात्कतिपयाहेन योगक्षेमं भविष्यति। क्षेमं दुर्गमिमं वासं वत्स्याम हि यथा वयम्
'Therefore, for a few days, our safety and sustenance will depend on this; we must dwell securely in this inaccessible place as best we can.'
इदमन्यन्महदुःखं धर्मकृच्छ्रं वृकोदर। दृष्ट्वैव त्वां महाप्राज्ञ अनङ्गाभिप्रचोदिता
'This is another great hardship, a trial of dharma, O Vrikodara; seeing you, O wise one, she, impelled by desire, has chosen you.'
युधिष्ठिरं च मां चैव वरयामास धर्मतः। धर्मार्थं देहि पुत्रं त्वं स नः श्रेयः करिष्यति
'She chose both Yudhishthira and me according to righteousness; for the sake of dharma, give her a son, for he will bring us good fortune.'
प्रतिवाक्यं तु नेच्छामि आवयोर्वचनं कुरु
'But I do not wish to argue; do as we have said.'
शासनं ते करिष्यामि वेदशासनमित्यपि। समक्षं भ्रातृमध्ये तु तां चोवाच स राक्षसीम्
'I will obey your command, even as I would the command of the Veda;' and in the presence of his brothers, he spoke thus to the rakshasi.
शृणु राक्षसि सत्येन समयं ते वदाम्यहम्।' यावत्कालेन भवति पुत्रस्योत्पादनं शुभे
'Listen, O rakshasi, I declare to you this agreement truthfully: for as long as it takes to beget a son, O auspicious one,'
तावत्कालं चरिष्यामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे। `विशेषतो मत्सकाशे मा प्रकाशय नीचताम्
'for that period I will remain with you, O slender-waisted one; but especially, do not reveal your lowly origin to anyone near me.'
सा तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय हिडिम्बा राक्षसी तथा
Thus promising, Hidimba the rakshasi agreed.
गताऽहनि निवेशेषु भोज्यं राजार्हमानयत्। सा कदाचिद्विहारार्थं हिडिम्बा कामरूपिणी
During the day, she would go to the settlements and bring food fit for a king; and sometimes, for pleasure, Hidimba, who could assume any form at will,
भीमसेनमुपादाय ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमं तदा। शैलशृङ्गेषु रम्येषु देवतायतनेषु च
would take Bhimasena and ascend to delightful mountain peaks and temples of the gods.
मृगपक्षिविघृष्टेषु रमणीयेषु सर्वेषु। कृत्वा सा परमं रूपं सर्वाभरणभूषिता
In all those beautiful places, frequented by wild animals and birds, she assumed a most splendid form, adorned with every ornament.
संजल्पन्ती सुमधुरं रमयामास पाण्डवम्। तथैव वनदुर्गेषु पर्वतद्रुमसानुषु
She delighted the Pandava with sweet and charming words, just so in the wild mountain fastnesses, on the slopes of hills and among the trees.
सरस्तु रमणीयेषु पद्मोत्पलवनेषु च। नदीद्वीपप्रदेशेषु वैडूर्यसिकतेषु च
In beautiful lakes, in groves of lotuses and water-lilies, in regions of rivers and islands, and on sands shining like beryl stones,
देवारण्येषु पुण्येषु तथा पर्वतसानुषु। सुतीर्थवनतोयासु तथा गिरिनदीषु च
In sacred forests of the gods, on holy mountain slopes, at pure fords and forest streams, and in mountain rivers as well,
सागरस्य प्रदेशेषु भणिहेमयुतेषु च। गुह्यकानां निवासेषु कुलपर्वतसानुषु
On the shores of the ocean, adorned with gold and gems, in the dwellings of the hidden spirits, and on the peaks of great mountains,
सर्वर्तुफलवृक्षेषु मानसेषु वनेषु च। बिभ्रती परमं रूपं रमयामास पाण्डवम्
Among trees bearing fruit in every season, and in delightful groves, she, displaying her supreme beauty, delighted the Pandava.
यथा सुमोदते स्वर्गे सुकृत्यप्सरसा सह। सुतरां परमप्रीतस्तथा रेमे महाद्युतिः
Just as one rejoices in heaven with a virtuous apsara, so did the illustrious one enjoy, filled with the highest joy.
शुभं हि जघनं तस्याः सवर्णमणिमेखलम्। न ततर्प तदा मृद्गन्भीमसेनो मुहुर्मुहुः
Her lovely hips, adorned with a jeweled girdle of matching hue, did not ever satisfy the mighty Bhimasena, though he gazed again and again.
रमयन्ती ततो भीमं तत्रतत्र मनोजवा। सा रेमे तेन संहर्षात्तृप्यन्ती च मुहुर्मुहुः
Then, swift as the mind, she delighted Bhima again and again in those places, and she herself rejoiced with him, ever more content.
अहस्सु रमयन्ती सा निशाकालेषु पाण्डवम्। आनीय वै स्वके गेहे दर्शयामास मातरम्
By day she delighted the Pandava, and at night, bringing him to her own house, she showed him to her mother.
भ्रातृभिः सहितो नित्यं स्वपते पाण्डवस्तथा। कुन्त्याः परिचरन्ती सा तस्याः पार्श्वेवसन्निशां
Thus the Pandava always slept with his brothers, while she, serving Kunti, stayed constantly at her side, day and night.
कामांश्च मुखवासादीनानयिष्यति भोजनम्। तस्यां रात्र्यां व्यतीतायामाजगाम महाव्रतः
Bringing food and delicacies as she wished, when that night had passed, the great sage arrived.
पाराशर्यो महाप्राज्ञो दिव्यदर्शी महातपाः। तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं कृष्णद्वैपायनं शुभम्। तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सस्नुषा चैव माधवी
Vyasa, the son of Parashara, wise, with divine sight and great austerity, was greeted by all with joined palms, including Madhavi, the daughter-in-law.