01.119
Core-Pancharatra:Pandavas settle down; jealousy and evil ways of Duryodhana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः क्षत्ता च राजा च भीष्मश्च सह बन्धुभिः । ददुः श्राद्धं तदा पाण्डोः स्वधामृतमयं तदा ॥१-११९-१॥
Then Vidura, the king, and Bhīṣma, along with the relatives, performed the funeral rite of Pāṇḍu, full of oblations and offerings like nectar.
कुरूंश्च विप्रमुख्यांश्च भोजयित्वा सहस्रशः । रत्नौघान्द्विजमुख्येभ्यो दत्त्वा ग्रामवरानपि ॥१-११९-२॥
Having fed thousands of Kurus and eminent Brāhmaṇas, they also gave heaps of jewels and excellent villages to the foremost Brāhmaṇas.
कृतशौचांस्ततस्तांस्तु पाण्डवान्भरतर्षभान् । आदाय विविशुः पौराः पुरं वारणसाह्वयम् ॥१-११९-३॥
Then the townspeople, taking the purified sons of Pāṇḍu, the foremost among the Bharatas, entered the city named Vāraṇasāhvaya.
सततं स्मान्वतप्यन्त तमेव भरतर्षभम् । पौरजानपदाः सर्वे मृतं स्वमिव बान्धवम् ॥१-११९-४॥
All the townspeople and countryfolk continually grieved for that bull among the Bharatas, as if he were their own lost relative.
श्राद्धावसाने तु तदा दृष्ट्वा तं दुःखितं जनम् । संमूढां दुःखशोकार्तां व्यासो मातरमब्रवीत् ॥१-११९-५॥
At the end of the funeral rites, seeing the people afflicted and bewildered with sorrow, Vyāsa spoke to the queen mother.
अतिक्रान्तसुखाः कालाः प्रत्युपस्थितदारुणाः । श्वः श्वः पापीयदिवसाः पृथिवी गतयौवना ॥१-११९-६॥
The happy times have passed; dreadful times have now arrived. Day by day, more sinful days come. The Earth has lost her youth.
बहुमायासमाकीर्णो नानादोषसमाकुलः । लुप्तधर्मक्रियाचारो घोरः कालो भविष्यति ॥१-११९-७॥
The coming time will be terrible, filled with many deceptions, overwhelmed with various faults, and the practices of dharma lost.
गच्छ त्वं त्यागमास्थाय युक्ता वस तपोवने । मा द्रक्ष्यसि कुलस्यास्य घोरं सङ्क्षयमात्मनः ॥१-११९-८॥
Go, adopting renunciation, and live disciplined in a forest of austerity. Do not witness the terrible destruction of your own family.
तथेति समनुज्ञाय सा प्रविश्याब्रवीत्स्नुषाम् । अम्बिके तव पुत्रस्य दुर्नयात्किल भारताः ॥ सानुबन्धा विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति पौत्राश्चैवेति नः श्रुतम् ॥१-११९-९॥
“So be it,” agreeing thus, she entered and said to her daughter-in-law: “O Ambikā, due to your son’s evil conduct, indeed the Bhāratas—along with their kin and even their grandsons—will perish. Thus have we heard.”
तत्कौसल्यामिमामार्तां पुत्रशोकाभिपीडिताम् । वनमादाय भद्रं ते गच्छावो यदि मन्यसे ॥१-११९-१०॥
Therefore, let us take this afflicted Kausalyā, overwhelmed by grief for her son, and go to the forest—blessings to you—if you think it proper.
तथेत्युक्ते अम्बिकया भीष्ममामन्त्र्य सुव्रता । वनं ययौ सत्यवती स्नुषाभ्यां सह भारत ॥१-११९-११॥
Thus, with Ambikā's consent and after addressing Bhīṣma, the devoted Satyavatī went to the forest with her two daughters-in-law, O Bhārata.
ताः सुघोरं तपः कृत्वा देव्यो भरतसत्तम । देहं त्यक्त्वा महाराज गतिमिष्टां ययुस्तदा ॥१-११९-१२॥
Having performed severe austerities, those noble ladies gave up their bodies and attained the desired state, O great king of the Bharatas.
अवाप्नुवन्त वेदोक्तान्संस्कारान्पाण्डवास्तदा । अवर्धन्त च भोगांस्ते भुञ्जानाः पितृवेश्मनि ॥१-११९-१३॥
At that time the Pāṇḍavas underwent the purificatory rites prescribed in the Vedas, and enjoying various comforts, they prospered in their father's house.
धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च सहिताः क्रीडन्तः पितृवेश्मनि । बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु विशिष्टाः पाण्डवाभवन् ॥१-११९-१४॥
Playing in their father's house with the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the Pāṇḍavas were distinguished in all forms of childhood games.
जवे लक्ष्याभिहरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे । धार्तराष्ट्रान्भीमसेनः सर्वान्स परिमर्दति ॥१-११९-१५॥
In speed, in seizing targets, in eating, and in sand-wrestling, Bhīmasena overpowered all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
हर्षादेतान्क्रीडमानान्गृह्य काकनिलीयने । शिरःसु च निगृह्यैनान्योधयामास पाण्डवः ॥१-११९-१६॥
Out of joy, the Pāṇḍava grabbed the boys while they played, seized them by the heads in a crow's pit, and made them wrestle.
शतमेकोत्तरं तेषां कुमाराणां महौजसाम् । एक एव विमृद्नाति नातिकृच्छ्राद्वृकोदरः ॥१-११९-१७॥
Vṛkodara alone would easily overpower the hundred and one high-spirited sons without much effort.
पादेषु च निगृह्यैनान्विनिहत्य बलाद्बली । चकर्ष क्रोशतो भूमौ घृष्टजानुशिरोक्षिकान् ॥१-११९-१८॥
Seizing them by the feet, the strong Bhīma overpowered them by force, dragged them crying on the ground, scraping their knees, heads, and shoulders.
दश बालाञ्जले क्रीडन्भुजाभ्यां परिगृह्य सः । आस्ते स्म सलिले मग्नः प्रमृतांश्च विमुञ्चति ॥१-११९-१९॥
Playing in the water, he would grasp ten boys with both arms, sit immersed in water, and release them after they had fainted.
फलानि वृक्षमारुह्य प्रचिन्वन्ति च ते यदा । तदा पादप्रहारेण भीमः कम्पयते द्रुमम् ॥१-११९-२०॥
When the others climbed trees to gather fruits, Bhīma would shake the tree with a kick of his foot.
प्रहारवेगाभिहताद्द्रुमाद्व्याघूर्णितास्ततः । सफलाः प्रपतन्ति स्म द्रुतं स्रस्ताः कुमारकाः ॥१-११९-२१॥
Then, as the tree was shaken by the force of the blow, the boys along with the fruits quickly fell down, loosened from the tree.
न ते नियुद्धे न जवे न योग्यासु कदाचन । कुमारा उत्तरं चक्रुः स्पर्धमाना वृकोदरम् ॥१-११९-२२॥
Though contending with Vṛkodara, the boys could never surpass him in wrestling, speed, or skill at any time.
एवं स धार्तराष्ट्राणां स्पर्धमानो वृकोदरः । अप्रियेऽतिष्ठदत्यन्तं बाल्यान्न द्रोहचेतसा ॥१-११९-२३॥
Thus, while contending with the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Vṛkodara became constantly disliked, though without any hostility due to his childish nature.
ततो बलमतिख्यातं धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान् । भीमसेनस्य तज्ज्ञात्वा दुष्टभावमदर्शयत् ॥१-११९-२४॥
Then the powerful son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, realizing the renowned strength of Bhīmasena, displayed a wicked intention.
तस्य धर्मादपेतस्य पापानि परिपश्यतः । मोहादैश्वर्यलोभाच्च पापा मतिरजायत ॥१-११९-२५॥
As he departed from righteousness, and seeing evil due to delusion and greed for power, a sinful intent arose in his mind.
अयं बलवतां श्रेष्ठः कुन्तीपुत्रो वृकोदरः । मध्यमः पाण्डुपुत्राणां निकृत्या संनिहन्यताम् ॥१-११९-२६॥
This Vṛkodara, son of Kuntī, the best among the strong and the middle of Pāṇḍu's sons, should be deceitfully destroyed.
अथ तस्मादवरजं ज्येष्ठं चैव युधिष्ठिरम् । प्रसह्य बन्धने बद्ध्वा प्रशासिष्ये वसुन्धराम् ॥१-११९-२७॥
Then, having bound by force the younger and elder—Yudhiṣṭhira—I shall rule the earth.
एवं स निश्चयं पापः कृत्वा दुर्योधनस्तदा । नित्यमेवान्तरप्रेक्षी भीमस्यासीन्महात्मनः ॥१-११९-२८॥
Thus, having made this wicked resolve, Duryodhana constantly kept a secret watch on the great-souled Bhīma.
ततो जलविहारार्थं कारयामास भारत । चेलकम्बलवेश्मानि विचित्राणि महान्ति च ॥१-११९-२९॥
Then, for the purpose of water-sports, he had large and varied houses of cloth and blankets constructed, O Bhārata.
प्रमाणकोट्यामुद्देशं स्थलं किञ्चिदुपेत्य च । क्रीडावसाने सर्वे ते शुचिवस्त्राः स्वलङ्कृताः ॥ सर्वकामसमृद्धं तदन्नं बुभुजिरे शनैः ॥१-११९-३०॥
Having gone to a certain spot near the measure's edge, all of them, in clean clothes and adorned, slowly ate the food that was rich in all pleasures at the end of the game.
दिवसान्ते परिश्रान्ता विहृत्य च कुरूद्वहाः । विहारावसथेष्वेव वीरा वासमरोचयन् ॥१-११९-३१॥
At the end of the day, fatigued after their play, the best of the Kurus chose to stay in the pleasure lodgings.
खिन्नस्तु बलवान्भीमो व्यायामाभ्यधिकस्तदा । वाहयित्वा कुमारांस्ताञ्जलक्रीडागतान्विभुः । प्रमाणकोट्यां वासार्थी सुष्वापारुह्य तत्स्थलम् ॥१-११९-३२॥
Then Bhīma, strong and superior in exertion, having made the boys play in the water, climbed the boundary ledge and, desiring rest, slept at that place.
शीतं वासं समासाद्य श्रान्तो मदविमोहितः । निश्चेष्टः पाण्डवो राजन्सुष्वाप मृतकल्पवत् ॥१-११९-३३॥
Reaching a cool resting place, weary and dazed from exertion, the Pāṇḍava slept motionless, like one dead, O king.
ततो बद्ध्वा लतापाशैर्भीमं दुर्योधनः शनैः । गम्भीरं भीमवेगं च स्थलाज्जलमपातयत् ॥१-११९-३४॥
Then Duryodhana slowly bound Bhīma with creeper ropes and cast him into deep water with a fierce current from the bank.
ततः प्रबुद्धः कौन्तेयः सर्वं सञ्छिद्य बन्धनम् । उदतिष्ठज्जलाद्भूयो भीमः प्रहरतां वरः ॥१-११९-३५॥
Then, awakening, the son of Kuntī tore apart all bonds and again rose from the water, Bhīma, the best among warriors.
सुप्तं चापि पुनः सर्पैस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रैर्महाविषैः । कुपितैर्दंशयामास सर्वेष्वेवाङ्गमर्मसु ॥१-११९-३६॥
Again, while sleeping, he was bitten by enraged snakes with sharp fangs and deadly venom on all vital parts of his body.
दंष्ट्राश्च दंष्ट्रिणां तेषां मर्मस्वपि निपातिताः । त्वचं नैवास्य बिभिदुः सारत्वात्पृथुवक्षसः ॥१-११९-३७॥
Even when the snakes’ fangs struck his vital parts, they could not pierce his skin, due to the firmness of his broad chest.
प्रतिकुद्धस्तु भीमस्तान्सर्वान्सर्पानपोथयत् । सारथिं चास्य दयितमपहस्तेन जघ्निवान् ॥१-११९-३८॥
Awakened, Bhīma smashed all the snakes and struck dead his dear charioteer with one blow.
भोजने भीमसेनस्य पुनः प्राक्षेपयद्विषम् । कालकूटं नवं तीक्ष्णं सम्भृतं लोमहर्षणम् ॥१-११९-३९॥
Again, fresh and sharp Kālakūṭa poison, carefully gathered and terrifying, was mixed into Bhīmasena’s food.
वैश्यापुत्रस्तदाचष्ट पार्थानां हितकाम्यया । तच्चापि भुक्त्वाजरयदविकारो वृकोदरः ॥१-११९-४०॥
The Vaiśya’s son informed the sons of Pṛthā out of goodwill; but Vṛkodara, even after eating it, remained unaffected.
विकारं न ह्यजनयत्सुतीक्ष्णमपि तद्विषम् । भीमसंहननो भीमस्तदप्यजरयत्ततः ॥१-११९-४१॥
Even that deadly poison did not cause any change in Bhīma; being of mighty frame, he digested it too.
एवं दुर्योधनः कर्णः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । अनेकैरभ्युपायैस्ताञ्जिघांसन्ति स्म पाण्डवान् ॥१-११९-४२॥
Thus, Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni son of Subala, using many means, continually sought to destroy the Pāṇḍavas.
पाण्डवाश्चापि तत्सर्वं प्रत्यजानन्नरिंदमाः । उद्भावनमकुर्वन्तो विदुरस्य मते स्थिताः ॥१-११९-४३॥
The Pāṇḍavas, subduers of enemies, recognized all this but refrained from revealing it, standing by Vidura’s counsel.
