उपपन्नमिदं मातस्त्वया यद्बुद्धिपूर्वकम्। आर्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्यैतदनुक्रोशादिदं कृतम्
Mother, what you have done with thoughtful consideration is fitting; this was done out of compassion for the distressed brahmin.
ध्रुवमेष्यति भीमोऽयं निहत्य पुरुषादकम्। सर्वथा ब्राह्मणस्यार्थे यदनुक्रोशवत्यसि
Surely Bhima will come, having slain the man-eater, since you have shown such compassion for the brahmin in every way.
यथा त्विदं न विन्देयुर्नरा नगरवासिनः। तथाऽयं ब्राह्मणो वाच्यः परिग्राह्यश्च यत्नतः
Just as the townspeople should not learn of this, so too this brahmin must be carefully spoken to and reassured.
युधिष्ठिरेण संमन्त्र्य ब्राह्मणार्थमरिन्दम। कुन्ती प्रविश्य तान्सर्वान्मन्त्रयामास भारत
Having consulted with Yudhishthira for the sake of the brahmin, Kunti entered and discussed everything with them, O Bharata.
अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां भीमसेनो महाबलः। ब्राह्मणं समुपागम्य वचश्चेदमुवाच ह
Then, when night had passed, mighty Bhimasena approached the brahmin and spoke these words.
आपदस्त्वां विमोक्ष्येऽहं सपुत्रं ब्राह्मण प्रियम्। मा भैषी राक्षसात्तस्मान्मां ददातु बलिं भवान्
I will rescue you, dear brahmin, along with your sons from this danger; do not fear that rakshasa—let me be given as the offering.
इद मामशितं कर्तुं प्रयतस्व सकृद्गृहे। आथात्मानं प्रादास्यामि तस्मै घोराय रक्षसे
Strive just once to prepare food for me in your house; then I will offer myself to that terrible rakshasa.
त्वरध्वं किं विलम्बध्वे मा चिरं कुरुतानघाः। व्यवस्येयं मनः प्राणैर्युष्मान्रक्षितुमद्य वै
Hurry, why do you delay? Do not take long, O blameless ones; I have resolved today to protect you with my very life.
एवमुक्तः स भीमेन ब्राह्मणो भरतर्षभ। सुहृदां तत्समाख्याय ददावन्नं सुसंस्कृतम्
Thus addressed by Bhima, the brahmin, best of the Bharatas, informed his friends and gave well-prepared food.
पिशितोदनमाजह्रुरथास्मै पुरवासिनः। सघृतं सोपदंशं च सूपैर्नानाविधैः सह
Then the townspeople brought him rice cooked with meat, with ghee, with condiments, and with various soups.
तदाऽशित्वा भीमसेनो मांसानि विविधानि च। मोदकानि च मुख्यानि चित्रोदनचयान्बहून्
Having eaten various kinds of meat, Bhimasena then enjoyed the finest sweets and many heaps of mixed rice.
ततोऽपिबद्दधिघटान्सुबहून्द्रोणसंमितान्। तस्य भुक्तवतः पौरा यथावत्समुपार्जितान्
After that, he drank many pots of curds, each measuring a drona; the townspeople brought him what they had gathered, as was proper.
उपजह्रुर्भृतं भागं समृद्धमनसस्तदा। ततो रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां सव्यञ्जनदधिप्लुतम्
With joyful hearts, they brought him his full share; then, when night had passed, it was served with side dishes and curds.
समारुह्यान्नसंपूर्णं शकटं स वृकोदरः। प्रययौ तूर्यनिर्घोषैः पौरैश्च परिवारितः
Then Vrikodara mounted a cart filled with food and set out, accompanied by the sound of instruments and surrounded by the townspeople.
आत्मानमेषोऽन्नभूतो राक्षसाय प्रदास्यति। तरुणोऽप्रतिरूपश्च दृढ औदरिको युवा
This young man, strong and robust, with a sturdy frame, will offer himself as food to the rakshasa; he is youthful, but his appearance is not fitting.
वाग्भिरेवंप्रकाराभिः स्तूयमानो वृकोदरः। चुचोद स बलीवर्दौ युक्तौ सर्वाङ्गकालकौ
Thus praised with such words, Vrikodara urged on the two bullocks yoked to the cart, both marked for sacrifice.
वादित्राणां प्रवादेन ततस्तं पुरुषादकम्। अभ्यगच्छत्सुसंहृष्टः सर्वत्र मनुजैर्वृतः
Then, to the sound of musical instruments, he joyfully approached the man-eater, surrounded everywhere by people.
संप्राप्य स च तं देशमेकाकी समुपाययौ। पुरुषादभयाद्भीतस्तत्रैवासीज्जनव्रजः
Arriving at that place, he went forward alone; the crowd there, terrified by the man-eater, remained behind.
स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं दक्षिणामभितो दिशम्। यतोपदिष्टमुद्देशे ददर्श विपुलं द्रुमम्
Traveling a long distance southward as directed, he saw a great tree at the appointed spot.
केशमज्जास्थिमेदोभिर्बाहूरुचरणैरपि। आर्द्रैः शुष्कैश्च संकीर्णमभितोऽथ वनस्पतिम्
Around that tree were scattered hair, marrow, bones, fat, arms, legs, and feet—both fresh and dry.
गृध्रकङ्कबलच्छन्नं गोमायुगणसेवितम्। उग्रगन्धमचक्षुष्यं श्मशानमिव दारुणम्
Covered with the remains of vultures and jackals, frequented by packs of wild dogs, it was foul-smelling, dreadful to behold, like a terrible cremation ground.
तं प्रविश्य महावृक्षं चिन्तयामास वीर्यवान्। यावन्न पश्यते रक्षो बकाभिख्यं बलोत्तरम्
Entering that great tree, the mighty one thought: 'Until I see the rakshasa named Baka, who is stronger than all.'
आचितं विविधैर्भोज्यैरन्नैरुच्चावचैरिदम्। शकटं सूपसंपूर्णं यावद्द्रक्ष्यति राक्षसः
'This cart is heaped with various foods and dishes, both high and low; until the rakshasa sees it—'
तावदेवेह भोक्ष्येऽहं दुर्लभं हि पुनर्भवेत्। विप्रकीर्येत सर्वं हि प्रयुद्धे मयि रक्षसा
'Until then, I will eat here, for such food is hard to come by again; for if I fight the rakshasa, everything may be scattered.'
अभोज्यं हि शवस्पर्शे निगृहीते बके भवेत्। स त्वेवं भीमकर्मा तु भीमसेनोऽभिलक्ष्य च
'If Baka seizes me, touched by a corpse, the food will become unfit to eat.' Thus Bhimasena, of terrible deeds, considered.
उपविश्य विविक्तेऽन्नं भुङ्क्ते स्म परमं परः। तं ततः सर्वतोऽपश्यन्द्रुमानारुह्य नागराः
Sitting in a secluded spot, he ate the excellent food; then the townspeople, climbing the trees, watched him from all sides.
नारक्षो बलिमश्नीयादेवं बहु च मानवाः। भुङ्क्ते ब्राह्मणरूपेण बकोऽयमिति चाब्रुवन्
'No man should eat the offering meant for the rakshasa,' said the people, 'for Baka, in the form of a brahmin, is eating it.'
स तं हसति तेजस्वी तदन्नमुपभुज्य च।' आसाद्य तु वनं तस्य रक्षसः पाण्डवो बली। आजुहाव ततो नाम्ना तदन्नमुपपादयन्
The radiant one laughed, having eaten that food; then, reaching the rakshasa's forest, the mighty Pandava called out his name, offering him the food.
ततः स राक्षसः क्रुद्धो भीमस्य वचनात्तदा। आजगाम सुसंक्रुद्धो यत्र भीमो व्यवस्थितः
Then the rakshasa, enraged by Bhima's words, came in great fury to where Bhima was standing.
महाकायो महावेगो दारयन्निव मेदिनीम्। लोहिताक्षः करालश्च लोहितश्मश्रुमूर्धजः
Huge-bodied, moving with great speed, as if tearing the earth, red-eyed and terrifying, with blood-red hair and beard.