न हिंस्या मानुषा भूयो युष्माभिरिति कर्हिचित्। हिंसतां हि वधः शीघ्रमेवमेव भवेदिति
"You must never again harm humans; for those who harm, death comes swiftly—let it be so," he said.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा तानि रक्षांसि भारत। एवमस्त्विति तं प्राहुर्जगृहुः समयं च तम्
Hearing these words of his, O Bharata, the Rakshasas replied, "So be it," and accepted that agreement.
सगणस्तु बकभ्राता प्राणमत्पाण्डवं तदा।' ततः प्रभृति रक्षांसि तत्र सौम्यानि भारत। नगरे प्रत्यदृश्यन्त नरैर्नगरवासिभिः
Then, together with his followers, Baka's brother bowed to the Pandava; and from that time, O Bharata, the Rakshasas in that city appeared gentle to the townspeople.
ततो भीमस्तमादाय गतासुं पुरुषादकम्। `निष्कर्णनेत्रं निर्जिह्वं निःसंज्ञं कण्ठपीडनात्। कुर्वन्बहुविधां चेष्टां पुरद्वारमकर्षत
Then Bhima, taking the lifeless man-eater, whose ears, eyes, and tongue were gone, rendered unconscious by strangling and making many gestures, dragged him to the city gate.
द्वारदेशे विनिक्षिप्य पुरमागात्स मारुतिः। स एव राक्षसो नूनं पुनरायाति नः पुरीम्
Placing him at the gate, Bhima, son of the wind-god, entered the city; the people thought, "Surely, that Rakshasa has come again to our city."
सबालवृद्धाः पुरुषा इति भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः। ततो भीमो बकं हत्वा गत्वा ब्राह्मणवेश्म तत्
Men, along with children and elders, fled in fear; then Bhima, having slain Baka, went to the Brahmin's house.
बलीवर्दौ च शकटं ब्राह्मणाय न्यवेदयत्। तूष्णीमन्तर्गृहं गच्छेत्यभिधाय द्विजोत्तमम्
He informed the Brahmin about the bullocks and the cart, telling the excellent Brahmin to quietly enter the house.
मातृभ्रातृसमक्षं च गत्वा शयनमेव च। आचचक्षेऽथ तत्सर्वं रात्रौ युद्धमभूद्यथा
In the presence of his mother and brothers, after going to his bed, he recounted everything—how the battle had taken place at night.
ततो नरा विनिष्क्रान्ता नगरात्कल्यमेव तु। ददृशुर्निहतं भूमौ राक्षसं रुधिरोक्षितम्
Then, at dawn, the people came out of the city and saw the demon lying dead on the ground, soaked in blood.
तमद्रिकूटसदृशं विनिकीर्णं भयानकम्। दृष्ट्वा संहृष्टरोमाणो बभूवुस्तत्र नागराः
Seeing him, scattered and dreadful, like a mountain peak, the townspeople's hair stood on end with amazement.
एकचक्रां ततो गत्वा प्रवृत्तिं प्रददुः पुरे। ततः सहस्रशो राजन्नरा नगरवासिनः
Then, going to Ekachakra, they spread the news in the city; after that, thousands of townspeople gathered.
तत्राजग्मुर्बकं द्रष्टुं सस्त्रीवृद्धकुमारकाः। ततस्ते विस्मिताः सर्वे कर्म दृष्ट्वाऽतिमानुषम्। दैवतान्यर्चयाञ्चक्रुः प्रार्थितानि पुरा भयात्
There, men, women, elders, and children came to see Baka; all of them, astonished at the superhuman deed, worshipped the gods whom they had previously prayed to out of fear.
ततः प्रगणयामासुः कस्य वारोऽद्य भोजने। ज्ञात्वा चागम्य तं विप्रं पप्रच्छुः सर्व एव ते
Then they began to count whose turn it was that day for the offering of food; having found out, they all went and questioned that Brahmin.
एवं पृष्टः स बहुशो रक्षमाणश्च पाण्डवान्। उवाच नागरान्सर्वानिदं विप्रर्षभस्तदा
Thus repeatedly questioned, while protecting the Pandavas, that best of Brahmins spoke these words to all the townspeople.
आज्ञापितं मामशने रुदन्तं सह बन्धुभिः। ददर्श ब्राह्मणः कश्चिन्मन्त्रसिद्धो महामनाः
As I was weeping with my relatives at the cremation ground, a certain Brahmin of great mind, accomplished in mantras, saw me.
परिपृच्छ्य स मां पूर्वं परिक्लेशं पुरस्य च। अब्रवीद्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो विश्वास्य प्रहसन्निव
First, he inquired about my suffering and the troubles of the city; then, that foremost of Brahmins, after gaining my trust, spoke with a gentle smile.
प्रापयिष्याम्यहं तस्मा अन्नमेतद्दुरात्मने। मन्निमित्तं भयं चापि न कार्यमिति चाब्रवीत्
He said, 'I will deliver this food to that wicked one; you need not fear on my account.'
स तदन्नमुपादाय गतो बकवनं प्रति। तेन नूनं भवेदेतत्कर्म लोकहितं कृतम्
Taking that food, he went toward the forest of Baka; surely, by this act, a deed for the good of the world was accomplished.
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे क्षत्रियाश्च सुविस्मिताः। वैश्याः शूद्राश्च मुदिताश्चक्रुर्ब्रह्ममहं तदा
Then all the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, amazed and delighted, performed a great Brahminical celebration.
ततो जानपदाः सर्वे आजग्मुर्नगरं प्रति। तमद्भुततमं द्रष्टुं पार्थास्तत्रैव चावसन्
After that, all the people of the region came to the city to witness that most wondrous event, and the sons of Pritha remained there.
वेत्रकीयगृहे सर्वे परिवार्य वृकोदरम्। विस्मयादभ्यगच्छन्त भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्
All surrounded Vrikodara in the house of the basket-maker, and, astonished, approached Bhima of terrible prowess.
न वै न संभवेत्सर्वं ब्राह्मणेषु महात्मसु। इति सत्कृत्य तं पौराः परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
Indeed, nothing is impossible for great-souled Brahmins—so, honoring him, the townspeople encircled him on all sides.
अयं त्राता हि खेदानां पितेव परमार्थतः। अस्य शुश्रूषवः पादौ परिचर्य उपास्महे
Truly, he is the remover of afflictions, like a father in the highest sense; wishing to serve him, we attend upon his feet.
पशुमद्दधिमनच्चास्य वारं भक्तमुपाहरन्। तस्मिन्हते ते पुरुषा भीताः समनुबोधनाः
They brought him food—meat, curds, and cooked rice—again and again; but after the slaying, those men were fearful and anxious.
ततः संप्राद्रवन्पार्थाः सह मात्रा परन्तपाः। आगच्छन्नेकचक्रां ते गाण्डवाः संशितव्रताः
Then the Parthas, scorcher of foes, together with their mother, departed; those Gandharas, firm in their vows, went toward Ekachakra.
वैदिकाध्ययने युक्ता जटिला ब्रह्मचारिणः। अवसंस्ते च तत्रापि ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने। मात्रर सहैकचक्रायां दीर्घकालं सहोषिताः
Engaged in Vedic study, wearing matted hair, practicing celibacy, they dwelt there too, in the Brahmin's house, living long in Ekachakra with their mother.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
The Brahmin said:
ते तथा पुरुषव्याघ्रा निहत्य बकराक्षसम्। अत ऊर्ध्वं ततो ब्रह्मन्किमकुर्वत पाण्डवाः
Having slain the demon Baka, what did the tiger-like Pandavas do next, O Brahmin?
तत्रैव न्यवसन्राजन्निहत्य बकराक्षसम्। अधीयानाः परं ब्रह्म ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने
There, after killing the demon Baka, they stayed, studying the supreme Veda in the Brahmin's house.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः। प्रतिश्रयार्थी तद्वेश्म ब्राह्मणस्याजगाम ह
Then, after a few days, a Brahmin of firm vows came to that Brahmin's house seeking shelter.