करिष्य इति भीमेन प्रतिज्ञातेऽथ भारत। आजग्मुस्ते ततः सर्वे भैक्षमादाय पाण्डवाः
When Bhima pledged, 'I will do it,' O Bharata, all the Pandavas then returned, having collected alms.
भीमसेनं ततो दृष्ट्वा आपूर्णवदनं तथा। बुबोध धर्मराजस्तु हृषितं भीममच्युतम्
Seeing Bhimasena with his face full and content, King Yudhishthira understood that Bhima, the steadfast, was delighted.
तोषस्य कारणं यत्तु मनसाऽचिन्तयद्गुरुः। स समीक्ष्य तदा राजन्योद्धुकामं युधिष्ठिरः
The teacher pondered in his mind the cause of Bhima’s satisfaction; Yudhishthira, observing this, desired to question him.
आकारेणैव तं ज्ञात्वा पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। रहः समुपविश्यैकस्ततः पप्रच्छ मातरम्
Recognizing it by his appearance, Yudhishthira, son of Pandu, sat down privately and then asked his mother.
किं चिकीर्षत्ययं कर्म भीमो भमपराक्रमः। भवत्यनुमते कच्चित्स्वयं वा कर्तुमिच्छति
What deed does Bhima, of terrible prowess, intend to do? Is it with your approval, or does he wish to act on his own?
ममैव वचनादेष करिष्यति परन्तपः। ब्राह्मणार्थे महत्कृत्यं मोक्षाय नगरस्य च
He will act on my command, O subduer of foes, for the sake of the Brahmin, a great task, and for the liberation of the town.
बकाय कल्पितं पुत्र महान्तं बलिमुत्तमम्। भीमो भुनक्तु सुस्पष्टमप्येकाहं तपःसुतः
A great and excellent offering has been prepared for Baka, my son; let Bhima eat it clearly, even for a single day, O son of asceticism.
किमिदं साहसं तीक्ष्णं भवत्या दुष्करं कृतम्। परित्यागं हि पुत्रस्य न प्रशंसन्ति साधवः
What is this harsh and difficult undertaking you have performed, O lady? The virtuous do not praise the abandonment of one’s son.
कथं परसुतस्यार्थे स्वसुतं त्यक्तुमिच्छसि। लोकवेदविरुद्धं हि पुत्रत्यागात्कृतं त्वया
How can you wish to abandon your own son for the sake of another's son? For by forsaking your child, you have acted against both worldly custom and sacred law.
यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य सुखं सर्वे शयामहे। राज्यं चापहृतं क्षुद्रैराजिहीर्षामहे पुनः
Upon whose arms we all rest comfortably, whose kingdom was seized by the petty, and whom we now desire to reclaim.
यस्य दुर्योधनो वीर्यं चिन्तयन्नमितौजसः। न शेते रजनीः सर्वा दुःखाच्छकुनिना सह
Thinking of his strength, Duryodhana, possessed of unyielding energy, does not sleep through the night, suffering together with Shakuni.
यस्य वीरस्य वीर्येण मुक्ता जतुगृहाद्वयम्। अन्येभ्यश्चैव पापेभ्यो निहतश्च पुरोचनः
By whose valor, O hero, we were freed from the house of lac, and Purochana was slain along with other wicked ones.
यस्य वीर्यं समाश्रित्य वसुपूर्णां वसुन्धराम्। इमां मन्यामहे प्राप्तां निहत्य धृतराष्ट्रजान्
Relying on his strength, we consider this earth, filled with riches, as ours, having defeated the sons of Dhritarashtra.
तस्य व्यवसितस्त्यागो बुद्धिमास्थाय कां त्वया। कच्चिन्नु दुःखैर्बुद्धिस्ते विलुप्ता गतचेतसः
Why have you resolved to abandon him, relying on your intellect? Has your mind been overwhelmed by sorrow, causing your judgment to falter?
युधिष्ठिर न संतापस्त्वया कार्यो वृकोदरे। न चायं बुद्धिदौर्बल्याद्व्यवसायः कृतो मया
Yudhishthira, you need not be distressed by me, O Vrikodara; nor has this decision been made out of weakness of mind.
न च शोकेन बुद्धिः सा विलुप्ता गतचेकसः।' इह विप्रस्य भवने वयं पुत्र सुखोषिताः। अज्ञाता धार्तराष्ट्राणां सत्कृता वीतमन्यवः
Nor has my mind been lost to grief or confusion; here, in the house of the Brahmin, we, O son, have lived happily, unknown to the sons of Dhritarashtra, honored and free from resentment.
तस्य प्रतिक्रिया पार्थ मयेयं प्रसमीक्षिता। एतावानेव पुरुषः कृतं यस्मिन्न नश्यति
O Partha, I have carefully considered the proper response for him; a man is accomplished when nothing is lost in what he undertakes.
यावच्च कुर्यादन्योऽस्य कुर्याद्बहुगुमं ततः। `ब्राह्मणार्थे महान्धर्मो जानामीत्थं वृकोदरे
As long as another can act for him, let him do so; I know, O Vrikodara, that for the sake of a Brahmin, the greatest righteousness is fulfilled.
दृष्ट्वा भीमस्य विक्रान्तं तदा जतुगृहे महत्। हिडिम्बस्य वधाच्चैवं विश्वासो मे वृकोदरे
Having seen Bhima's mighty valor in the house of lac and in the slaying of Hidimba, I have confidence in Vrikodara.
बाह्वोर्बलं हि भीमस्य नागायुतसमं महत्। येन यूयं गजप्रख्या निर्व्यूढा वारणावतात्
The strength of Bhima's arms is immense, equal to that of a thousand elephants, by which you, resembling elephants, were rescued from Varanavata.
वृकोदरेण सदृशो बलेनान्यो न विद्यते। यो व्यतीयाद्युधि श्रेष्ठमपि वज्रधरं स्वयम्
There is no one whose strength equals Vrikodara's; he could surpass even the best in battle, even the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.
जातमात्रः पुरा चैव ममाङ्कात्पतितो गिरौ। शरीरगौरवादस्य शिला गात्रैर्विचूर्णिता
When he was newly born and fell from my lap onto the mountain, the weight of his body shattered the rock with his limbs.
तदहं प्रज्ञया ज्ञात्वा बलं भीमस्य पाण्डव। प्रतिकार्ये च विप्रस्य ततः कृतवती मतिम्
Therefore, understanding Bhima's strength with discernment, O Pandava, I formed my plan for the Brahmin's sake.
नेदं लोभान्न चाज्ञानान्न च मोहाद्विनिश्चितम्। बुद्धिपूर्वं तु धर्मस्य व्यवसायः कृतो मया
This decision was not made from greed, ignorance, or delusion; rather, it was a deliberate resolve for righteousness, made with careful thought.
अर्थौ द्वावपि निष्पन्नौ युधिष्ठिर भविष्यतः। प्रतीकारश्च वासस्य धर्मश्च चरितो महान्
Both aims will be accomplished, O Yudhishthira: the response for our dwelling and the great fulfillment of righteousness.
यो ब्राह्मणस्य साहाय्यं कुर्यादर्थेषु कर्हिचित्। क्षत्रियः स शुभाँल्लोकानाप्नुयादिति मे मतिः
Whenever a Kshatriya assists a Brahmin in any matter, he attains auspicious worlds—this is my conviction.
क्षत्रियस्यैव कुर्वाणः क्षत्रियो वधमोक्षणम्। विपुलां कीर्तिमाप्नोति लोकेऽस्मिंश्च परत्र च
A kshatriya who, acting as a kshatriya, grants release or death, attains great fame in this world and the next.
वैश्यस्यार्थे च साहाय्यं कुर्वाणः क्षत्रियो भुवि। स सर्वेष्वपि लोकेषु प्रजा रञ्जयते ध्रुवम्
A kshatriya who assists a vaishya on earth surely brings joy to people in all worlds.
शूद्रं तु मोचयेद्राजा शरणार्थिनमागतम्। प्राप्नोतीह कुले जन्म सद्द्रव्ये राजपूजिते
But if a king frees a shudra who has come seeking refuge, he is born in a noble family here, possessing honored royal wealth.
एवं मां भगवान्व्यासः पुरा पौरवनन्दन। प्रोवाचासुकरप्रज्ञस्तस्मादेवं चिकीर्षितम्
Thus, O joy of the Pauravas, the venerable Vyasa, wise and difficult to comprehend, spoke to me before; therefore, this is what has been resolved.