वैशम्पायन उवाच तेन विक्रममाणेन ऊरुवेगसमीरितम्। वनं सवृक्षविटपं व्याघूर्णितमिवाभवत्॥
Vaishampayana said : By the force of that mighty (heroes') breast, the forest with its trees and their branches appeared to tremble,
जङ्घावातो ववौ चास्य शुचिशुक्रागमे यथा। आवर्जितलतावृक्षं मार्ग चक्रे महाबलः॥
The motion of his thighs raised a wind like that of the month of Jyeshtha and Asharda. The greatly strong (Bhima) made a road for himself by treading down the trees and creepers.
स मृद्गन् पुष्पितांश्चैव फलितांश्च वनस्पतीन्। अवरुज्य ययौ गुल्मान् पथस्तस्य समीपजान्॥
He proceeded on, breaking the kings of the forest (big trees) and the plants with their flowers and fruits that stood on his way.
स रोषित इव क्रुद्धो वने भञ्जन् महादुमान्। त्रिप्रस्त्रुतमदः शुष्मी षष्टिवर्षी मतङ्गराट्॥
Thus breaking large trees angrily goes through the forest the leader of a hard of elephants of sixty years of age, the liquid juice (at the season of rut) trickling down the three parts of his body.
गच्छतस्तस्य वेगेन तार्क्ष्यमारुतरंहसः। भीमस्य पाण्डुपुत्राणां मूछेव समजायत।॥
So great was the force with which Bhima, endued with the speed of Garuda or Maruta, proceeded that the Pandavas seemed to be fainted.
असकृच्चापि संतीर्य दूरपारं भुजप्लवैः। पथि प्रच्छन्नमासेदुर्धार्तराष्ट्रभयात् तदा॥
By the strength of his arms, he swam across many streams difficult to be crossed; and they (the Pandavas) disguised themselves from the fear of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
कृच्छ्रेण मातरं चैव सुकुमारी यशस्विनीम्। अवहत् स तु पृष्ठेन रोधस्सु विषमेषु च॥
He carried his delicate and illustrious mother on his back over even and uneven grounds on the banks of rivers.
अगमच्च वनोद्देशमल्पमूलफलोदकम्। क्रूरपक्षिमृगं घोरं सायाह्ने भरतर्षभ।॥
O best of the Bharata race, in the evening he reached a fearful forest where fruits and roots and water were scarce and (which was) full of terrible roars of birds and beasts.
घोरा समभवत् संध्या दारुणा मृगपक्षिणः। अप्रकाशा दिशः सर्वा वातैरासन्ननार्तवैः॥
The twilight became fearfully bark and (the roars of) birds and beasts (grew) fiercer. All sides became invisible, (being covered with darkness).
शीर्णपर्णफलै राजन् बहुगुल्मक्षुपैर्दुमैः। भग्नावभग्नभूयिष्ठेर्नानाद्रुमसमाकुलैः॥
A strong wind began to blow. It broke and laid low many large and small trees and many creepers with fruits and dry leaves.
ते श्रमेण च कौरव्यास्तृष्णया च प्रपीडिताः। नाशक्नुवंस्तदा गन्तुं निद्रया च प्रवृद्धया॥
Those descendants of Kuru (the Pandavas), afflicted with fatigue and thirst and heavy with sleep, were unable to proceed further.
न्यविशन्त हि ते सर्वे निरास्वादे महावने। ततस्तृषापरिक्लान्ता कुन्ती पुत्रानथाब्रवीत्॥
They then sat down in that great forest without food or water and Kunti, afflicted with thirst, then spoke thus to her sons-
माता सती पाण्डवानां पञ्चानां मध्यतः स्थिता। तृष्णया हि परीतास्मि पुत्रान् भृशमथाब्रवीत्॥
"I am the mother of the five Pandavas though I am now in their midst, yet I am burning in thirst!” She repeatedly said this to her sons.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भीमसेनस्य मातृस्नेहात् प्रजल्पितम्। कारुण्येन मनस्तप्तं गमनायोपचक्रमे॥
Having heard this, Bhimasena's heart was warmed with compassion from the affection (he bore) for his mother and he began to proceed again.
ततो भीमो वनं घोरं प्रविश्य विजनं महत्। न्यग्रोधं विपुलच्छायं रमणीयं ददर्श ह॥
Then Bhima, entering a large fearful and terrible forest, saw a beautiful banian tree with wide spreading branches.
तत्र निक्षिप्य तान् सर्वानुवाच भरतर्षभः। पानीयं मृगयामीह विश्रमध्वमिति प्रभो॥
Placing them all there (under the tree) that best of the Bharata race, (Bhima) said, “O lord, rest here; I shall go to bring water.
एते रुवन्ति मधुरं सारसा जलचारिणः। ध्रुवमत्र जलस्थानं महच्चेति मतिर्मम॥
I hear the sweet notes of the water fowl Sarashas. I think there must be a big lake (somewhere here)."
अनुज्ञातः स गच्छेति भ्रात्रा ज्येष्ठेन भारत। जगाम तत्र यत्र स्म सारसा जलचारिणः॥
O descendant of Bharata, commanded by his eldest brother who said, "Go," he went there where the aquatic Sarasas were.
स तत्र पीत्वा पानीयं स्नात्वा च भरतर्षभ। तेषामर्थे च जग्राह भ्रातृणां भ्रातृवत्सलः। उत्तरीयेण पानीयमानयामास भारत॥
O best of the Bharata race, affectionate to his brothers he want for the sake of his bothers. He drank water and bathed there in that lake; he brought water for them by soaking his upper garment.
गव्यूतिमात्रादागत्य त्वरितो मातरं प्रति। शोकदुःखपरीतात्मा निःशश्वासोरगो यथा॥
O descendant of Bharata, retracing his way with all speed, over four miles he came to his mother and began to sigh like a snake in sorrow and grief.
स सुप्तां मातरं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातूंश्च वसुधातले। भृशं शोकपरीतात्मा विललाप वृकोदरः॥
Seeing his mother and brothers asleep on the ground, Vrikodara was greatly afflicted with grief and lamented thus-
अतः कष्टतरं किं नु द्रष्टव्यं हि भविष्यति। यत् पश्यामि महीसुप्तान् भ्रातृनद्य सुमन्दभाक्॥
ever "Alas! what more painful sight can I see then what I see now, my brothers sleeping on the ground! O unfortunate am I!
शयनेषु परार्येषु ये पुरा वारणावते। नाधिजग्मुस्तदा निद्रां तेऽद्य सुप्ता महीतले॥
They who could not formerly sleep at Varanavata on the softest and costliest bed are now asleep on the bare ground!
स्वसारं वसुदेवस्य शत्रुसङ्घावमर्दिनः। कुन्तिराजसुतां कुन्तीं सर्वलक्षणपूजिताम्॥ स्नुषां विचित्रवीर्यस्य भार्यां पाण्डोर्महात्मनः। तथैव चास्मज्जननीं पुण्डरीकोदरप्रभाम्॥ सुकुमारतरामेनां महार्हशयनोचिताम्। शयानां पश्यतायेह पृथिव्यामतथोचिताम्॥
The sister of that chastiser of foes, Vasudeva, the daughter of the king of Kunti (Bhoja), Kunti, endued with all auspicious marks. The daughter-in-law of Vichitravirya and the wife of the illustrious Pandu and the mother of us (the Pandavas), resplendent as the filament of lotus. Delicate and tender, fit to sleep on the costliest beds, is now asleep as she could never do not the bare ground!
धर्मादिन्द्राच्च वाताच्च सुषुवे या सुतानिमान्। सेयं भूमौ परिश्रान्ता शेते प्रासादशायिनी॥
She, who has given birth to these sons by Dharma, Indra, Maruta; and who has ever slept in palaces, is now asleep on the ground from fatigue!
किं नु दुःखतरं शक्यं मया द्रष्टुमतः परम्। योऽहमद्य नरव्याघ्रान् सुप्तान् पश्यामि भूतले॥
What more painful sight shall I ever see than what I see (now) the best of men (the Pandavas) sleeping on the (bare) ground!
त्रिषु लोकेषु यो राज्यं धर्मनित्योऽर्हते नृपः। सोऽयं भूमौ परिश्रान्तः शेते प्राकृतवत् कथम्॥
The ever virtuous (Yudhisthira) who deserves to be the king of the three worlds, now sleeps on the ground, fatigued and tired like on ordinary being.
अयं नीलाम्बुदश्यामो नरेष्वप्रतिमोऽर्जुनः। शेते प्राकृतवद् भूमौ दुःखतरं नु किम्॥
(Arjuna) of the colour of the blue ocean who is matchless among men sleeps on the ground like ordinary mortals. What could be more painful then this!
अश्विनाविव देवानां याविमौ रूपसम्पदा। तौ प्राकृतवदद्यमौ प्रसुप्तौ धरणीतले॥
The twins, who are handsome as the Asvinis among the celestial, are asleep on the ground like ordinary men!
ज्ञातयो यस्य नैव स्युर्विषमाः कुलपांसनाः। स जीवेत सुखं लोके ग्रामद्रुम इवैकजः॥
He who has no jealous and wicked minded relatives lives like a single tree in a village.
एको वृक्षो हि यो ग्रामे भवेत् पर्णफलान्वितः। चैत्यो भवति निर्मातिरर्चनीयः सुपूजितः॥
Where there is only one tree full of leaves and fruits in a village, it became sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all.
येषां च बहवः शूरा ज्ञातयो धर्ममाश्रिताः। ते जीवन्ति सुखं लोके भवन्ति च निरामयाः॥
They, who have many relatives, who are heroic and virtuous, live happily in this world without any sorrow of any kind.
बलवन्तः समृद्धार्था मित्रबान्धवनन्दनाः। जीवन्त्यन्योन्याश्रित्य दुमाः काननजा इव॥
Being powerful, growing in prosperity and making their friends and relatives happy, they live depending on one another like the trees of the forest.
वयं तु धृतराष्ट्रेण सपुत्रेण दुरात्मना। विवासिता न दग्धाश्च कथंचिद् दैवसंश्रयात्॥
We are banished by the wicked minded Dhritarashtra and his sons and we escaped for our good fortune from a fiery death.
तस्मान्मुक्तः वयं दाहादिमं वृक्षमुपाश्रिताः। कां दिशं प्रतिपत्स्यामः प्राप्ताः क्लेशमनुत्तमम्॥
Having escaped from that fire, we are now resting under this tree. Having suffering great afflictions, where are we now to go?
सकामो भव दुर्बुद्धे धार्तराष्ट्राल्पदर्शन। नूनं देवाः प्रसन्नास्ते नानुज्ञां मे युधिष्ठिरः॥ प्रयच्छति वधे तुभ्यं तेन जीवसि दुर्मते। नन्वद्य त्वां सहामात्यं सकर्णानुजसौबलम्॥ गत्वा क्रोधसमाविष्टः प्रेषयिष्ये यमक्षयम्। किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं यत् ते न क्रुध्यते नृपः॥ धर्मात्मा पाण्डवश्रेष्ठः पापाचारः युधिष्ठिरः। एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुः क्रोधसंदीप्तमानसः॥ करं करेण निष्षिष्य निःश्वसन् दीनमानसः। पुनर्दीनमना भूत्वा शान्तार्चिरिव पावकः॥ भ्रातृन् महीतले सुप्तानवैक्षत वृकोदरः। विश्वस्तानिव संविष्टान् पृथग्जनसमानिव॥
O fore sightless sons of Dhritarashtra, O wicked men, enjoy your success. The gods are certainly favourable to you. Because Yudhisthira does not order me, (to kill you) therefore, O wretched men, live till then. Else angry as I am, I would have even this very day sent you (Duryodhana) with your sons and ministers and with Karna and the son of Subala (Sakuni) to the land of the dead. What can I do, so long the king (Yudhisthira) is not angry. O vicious men, the eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhisthira, is a virtuous minded man." Having said this, the mighty armed (Bhima), his mind inflamed with wrath. Squeezed his palms and sighed with a sorrowful mind. Like an extinguished fire blazed up, again in sorrowful mind. Vrikodara saw his brothers sleeping like ordinary men in trustfulness on the ground.
नातिदूरेग नगरं वनादस्माद्धि लक्षये। जागर्तव्ये स्वपन्तीमे हन्त जागर्म्यहं स्वयम्॥ पास्यन्तीमे जलं पश्चात् प्रतिबुद्धा जितक्लमाः। इति भीमो व्यवस्यैव जजागार स्वयं तदा॥
Then Bhima thought, “I think there are some towns not far off from this forest. We ought to remain awake here. But they are all asleep therefore, I myself will sit awake. When they will rise after having been refreshed by sleep, then they will quince their thirst.” having resolved this, Bhima said awake.