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.
आकर्णाद्भिन्नवक्त्रश्च शङ्कुकर्णो विभीषणः। त्रिशिखां भ्रुकुटिं कृत्वा संदश्य दशनच्छदम्
With a mouth split ear to ear, shell-shaped ears, dreadful to behold, he furrowed his brow in three lines and gnashed his teeth.
भुञ्जानमन्नं तं दृष्ट्वा भीमसेनं स राक्षसः। विवृत्य नयने क्रुद्ध इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing Bhimasena eating the food, the rakshasa, his eyes wide with anger, spoke these words:
कोऽयमन्नमिदं भुङ्क्ते मदर्थमुपकल्पितम्। पश्यतो मम दुर्बुद्धिर्यियासुर्यमसादनम्
Who is this eating the food prepared for me, right before my eyes, with such reckless intent to court death?
भीमसेनस्ततः श्रुत्वा प्रहसन्निव भारत। राक्षसं तमनादृत्य भुङ्क्त एव पराङ्मुखः
Hearing this, Bhimasena, O Bharata, laughed and, disregarding the Rakshasa, continued eating with his back turned.
रवं स भैरवं कृत्वा समुद्यम्य करावुभौ। अभ्यद्रवद्भीमसेनं जिङांसुः पुरुषादकः
Uttering a terrifying roar and raising both his hands, the man-eating Rakshasa charged at Bhimasena, intent on killing him.
तथापि परिभूयैनं प्रेक्षमाणो वृकोदरः। राक्षसं भुङ्क्त एवान्नं पाण्डवः परवीरहा
Yet, even as he was insulted and watched closely, Vrikodara, the slayer of enemy heroes and son of Pandu, kept eating the food, ignoring the Rakshasa.
अमर्षेण तु संपूर्णः कुन्तीपुत्रं वृकोदरम्। जघान पृष्ठे पाणिभ्यामुभाभ्यां पृष्ठतः स्थितः
Filled with rage, the Rakshasa struck Vrikodara, son of Kunti, on the back with both hands from behind.
तथा बलवता भीमः पाणिभ्यां भृशमाहतः। नैवावलोकयामास राक्षसं भुङ्क्त एव सः
Though struck forcefully by the Rakshasa's powerful hands, Bhima did not even glance at him and kept eating.
ततः स भूयः संक्रुद्धो वृक्षमादाय राक्षसः। ताडयिष्यंस्तदा भीमं पुनरभ्यद्रवद्बली
Then, growing even more enraged, the mighty Rakshasa seized a tree and rushed again at Bhima to strike him.
क्षिप्तं क्रुद्धेन तं वृक्षं प्रतिजग्राह वीर्यवान्। सव्येन पाणिना भीमो दक्षिणेनाप्यभुङ्क्त ह
As the Rakshasa hurled the tree in anger, Bhima, strong of arm, caught it with his left hand and continued eating with his right.