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.
शकटान्नं ततो भुक्त्वा रक्षसः पाणिना सह। गृह्णन्नेव तदा वृक्षं निःशेषं पर्वतोपमम्
Having finished the cartloads of food, Bhima seized the entire mountain-like tree from the Rakshasa with one hand.
भीमसेनो हसन्नेव भुक्त्वा त्यक्त्वा च राक्षसम्। पीत्वा दधिघटान्पूर्णान्घृतकुम्भाञ्शतं शतम्
Laughing, Bhimasena finished eating, left the Rakshasa's food, and drank hundreds of pots full of curds and clarified butter.
वार्युपस्पृश्य संहृष्टस्तस्थौ गिरिरिवापरः। भ्रामयन्तं महावृक्षमायान्तं भीमदर्शनम्
After rinsing his mouth with water, delighted, he stood firm like another mountain, facing the fearsome Rakshasa brandishing a great tree.
दृष्ट्वोत्थायाहवे वीरः सिंहनादं व्यनादयत्। भुजवेगं तथाऽऽस्फोटं क्ष्वेलितं च महास्वनम्
Seeing this, the hero rose up in the battle, let out a lion's roar, and made a thunderous sound by clapping his arms and slapping them together.
कृत्वाऽऽह्वयत संक्रुद्धो भीमसेनोऽथ राक्षसम्। उवाचाशनिशब्देन ध्वनिना भीषयन्निव
Then, Bhimasena, enraged, challenged the Rakshasa and spoke with a voice like thunder, as if to terrify him.
बहुकालं सुपुष्टं ते शरीरं राक्षसाधम। द्विपच्चतुष्पन्मांसैश्च बहुभिश्चौदनैरपि
For a long time, your body has grown strong, O vile Rakshasa, by feeding on the flesh of bipeds, quadrupeds, and many kinds of food.
मद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य न त्वं भूयस्त्वशिष्यसि। अद्य मद्बाहुनिष्पिष्टो गमिष्यसि यमालयम्
Relying on the strength of my arms, you will not eat again; today, crushed by my arms, you will go to the abode of Yama.
अद्यप्रभृति स्वप्स्यन्ति वेत्रकीयनिवासिनः। निरुद्विग्नाः पुरस्यास्य कण्टके सूद्धृते मया
From today, the dwellers of Vetrakiya will sleep without fear, for I will remove this thorn from their city.
अद्य युद्धे शरीरं ते कङ्कगोमायुवायसाः। मया हतस्य खादन्तु विकर्षन्तु च भूतले
Today, in battle, let the crows, jackals, and vultures eat your body, slain by me, and drag it across the earth.
एवमुक्त्वा सुसंक्रुद्धः पार्थो बकजिघांसया। उपाधावद्बकश्चापि पार्थं पार्थिवसत्तम
Having spoken thus, Partha, burning with anger and intent on slaying Baka, rushed at him; and Baka, too, charged at Partha, O best of kings.