01.139
Core:Bhima rejects Hidambi's offer.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तत्र तेषु शयानेषु हिडिम्बो नाम राक्षसः । अविदूरे वनात्तस्माच्छालवृक्षमुपाश्रितः ॥१-१३९-१॥
There, while they were lying down, a demon named Hiḍimba, stationed near a śāla tree not far from that forest, was present.
क्रूरो मानुषमांसादो महावीर्यो महाबलः । विरूपरूपः पिङ्गाक्षः करालो घोरदर्शनः । पिशितेप्सुः क्षुधार्तस्तानपश्यत यदृच्छया ॥१-१३९-२॥
He, cruel and eater of human flesh, of great strength and might, deformed in form, tawny-eyed, fierce-jawed, terrifying in sight, desiring flesh and tormented by hunger, saw them by chance.
ऊर्ध्वाङ्गुलिः स कण्डूयन्धुन्वन्रूक्षाञ्शिरोरुहान् । जृम्भमाणो महावक्त्रः पुनः पुनरवेक्ष्य च ॥१-१३९-३॥
With raised fingers, scratching and shaking his rough head hairs, yawning with a wide mouth, he kept gazing again and again.
दुष्टो मानुषमांसादो महाकायो महाबलः । आघ्राय मानुषं गन्धं भगिनीमिदमब्रवीत् ॥१-१३९-४॥
The wicked, huge-bodied, and mighty eater of human flesh, having smelled human scent, said this to his sister.
उपपन्नश्चिरस्याद्य भक्षो मम मनःप्रियः । स्नेहस्रवान्प्रस्रवति जिह्वा पर्येति मे मुखम् ॥१-१३९-५॥
Today, after a long time, my most desired prey has come — my tongue salivates and moves around my mouth.
अष्टौ दंष्ट्राः सुतीक्ष्णाग्राश्चिरस्यापातदुःसहाः । देहेषु मज्जयिष्यामि स्निग्धेषु पिशितेषु च ॥१-१३९-६॥
After a long time, with my eight sharp-tipped fangs, I shall plunge into soft flesh and bodies — unbearable in attack.
आक्रम्य मानुषं कण्ठमाच्छिद्य धमनीमपि । उष्णं नवं प्रपास्यामि फेनिलं रुधिरं बहु ॥१-१३९-७॥
Seizing a human throat and cutting the artery, I shall drink warm, fresh, foamy blood — in abundance.
गच्छ जानीहि के त्वेते शेरते वनमाश्रिताः । मानुषो बलवान्गन्धो घ्राणं तर्पयतीव मे ॥१-१३९-८॥
Go and find out who these are lying in the forest — the strong human scent pleases my nose.
हत्वैतान्मानुषान्सर्वानानयस्व ममान्तिकम् । अस्मद्विषयसुप्तेभ्यो नैतेभ्यो भयमस्ति ते ॥१-१३९-९॥
Kill all these humans and bring them near to me — while they sleep in our territory, you have no reason to fear them.
एषां मांसानि संस्कृत्य मानुषाणां यथेष्टतः । भक्षयिष्याव सहितौ कुरु तूर्णं वचो मम ॥१-१३९-१०॥
Prepare the meat of these humans as desired — we two shall eat it together. Quickly obey my words.
भ्रातुर्वचनमाज्ञाय त्वरमाणेव राक्षसी । जगाम तत्र यत्र स्म पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ ॥१-१३९-११॥
Having obeyed her brother's words, the demoness hastened as if eagerly and went to where the Pāṇḍavas were, O bull of the Bharatas.
ददर्श तत्र गत्वा सा पाण्डवान्पृथया सह । शयानान्भीमसेनं च जाग्रतं त्वपराजितम् ॥१-१३९-१२॥
Having gone there, she saw the Pāṇḍavas lying with Kuntī and Bhīmasena awake and unconquered.
दृष्ट्वैव भीमसेनं सा शालस्कन्धमिवोद्गतम् । राक्षसी कामयामास रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि ॥१-१३९-१३॥
Upon seeing Bhīmasena, risen like a śāla tree trunk, the demoness desired him, whose form was incomparable on earth.
अयं श्यामो महाबाहुः सिंहस्कन्धो महाद्युतिः । कम्बुग्रीवः पुष्कराक्षो भर्ता युक्तो भवेन्मम ॥१-१३९-१४॥
This dark, broad-armed, lion-shouldered, radiant one with a conch-like neck and lotus eyes — he should be my husband.
नाहं भ्रातृवचो जातु कुर्यां क्रूरोपसंहितम् । पतिस्नेहोऽतिबलवान्न तथा भ्रातृसौहृदम् ॥१-१३९-१५॥
I would never follow my brother’s cruel words; the love for a husband is stronger than affection for a brother.
मुहूर्तमिव तृप्तिश्च भवेद्भ्रातुर्ममैव च । हतैरेतैरहत्वा तु मोदिष्ये शाश्वतिः समाः ॥१-१३९-१६॥
Only momentary satisfaction would be had by my brother from slaying these, but without killing them I shall enjoy for eternal years.
सा कामरूपिणी रूपं कृत्वा मानुषमुत्तमम् । उपतस्थे महाबाहुं भीमसेनं शनैः शनैः ॥१-१३९-१७॥
That shape-shifting demoness, having assumed the most excellent human form, slowly approached the broad-armed Bhīmasena.
विलज्जमानेव लता दिव्याभरणभूषिता । स्मितपूर्वमिदं वाक्यं भीमसेनमथाब्रवीत् ॥१-१३९-१८॥
Appearing shy like a vine and adorned with divine ornaments, she smiled and then spoke this speech to Bhīmasena.
कुतस्त्वमसि सम्प्राप्तः कश्चासि पुरुषर्षभ । क इमे शेरते चेह पुरुषा देवरूपिणः ॥१-१३९-१९॥
From where have you come, O bull among men? Who are you? And who are these divine-formed men lying here?
केयं च बृहती श्यामा सुकुमारी तवानघ । शेते वनमिदं प्राप्य विश्वस्ता स्वगृहे यथा ॥१-१३९-२०॥
And who is this tall, dark, and delicate lady of yours, O sinless one, lying here in the forest as if in her own home, full of trust?
नेदं जानाति गहनं वनं राक्षससेवितम् । वसति ह्यत्र पापात्मा हिडिम्बो नाम राक्षसः ॥१-१३९-२१॥
This dense forest is unknown to you, it is inhabited by Rākṣasas. Here dwells the evil-souled demon named Hiḍimba.
तेनाहं प्रेषिता भ्रात्रा दुष्टभावेन रक्षसा । बिभक्षयिषता मांसं युष्माकममरोपम ॥१-१३९-२२॥
I was sent by my demon brother with wicked intent, desiring to devour your flesh, which is like that of immortals.
साहं त्वामभिसम्प्रेक्ष्य देवगर्भसमप्रभम् । नान्यं भर्तारमिच्छामि सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१-१३९-२३॥
Having gazed upon you, radiant like a divine son, I desire no other husband. This I truly tell you.
एतद्विज्ञाय धर्मज्ञ युक्तं मयि समाचर । कामोपहतचित्ताङ्गीं भजमानां भजस्व माम् ॥१-१३९-२४॥
Knowing this, O knower of dharma, act rightly toward me, who am overcome by desire and devotedly seeking you — accept me.
त्रास्येऽहं त्वां महाबाहो राक्षसात्पुरुषादकात् । वत्स्यावो गिरिदुर्गेषु भर्ता भव ममानघ ॥१-१३९-२५॥
I shall protect you, O mighty-armed, from the man-eating demon. Let us dwell in mountain caves. Be my husband, O sinless one.
अन्तरिक्षचरा ह्यस्मि कामतो विचरामि च । अतुलामाप्नुहि प्रीतिं तत्र तत्र मया सह ॥१-१३९-२६॥
I am one who roams the skies at will. Obtain incomparable joy with me, here and there.
भीम उवाच॥
Bhīma said:
मातरं भ्रातरं ज्येष्ठं कनिष्ठानपरानिमान् । परित्यजेत को न्वद्य प्रभवन्निव राक्षसि ॥१-१३९-२७॥
Who indeed today, even if powerful, O demoness, would abandon his mother, elder brother, and these younger ones?
को हि सुप्तानिमान्भ्रातृन्दत्त्वा राक्षसभोजनम् । मातरं च नरो गच्छेत्कामार्त इव मद्विधः ॥१-१३९-२८॥
What man like me, overcome by lust, would give his sleeping brothers and mother as food for a demon and depart?
राक्षस्युवाच॥
The demoness said:
यत्ते प्रियं तत्करिष्ये सर्वानेतान्प्रबोधय । मोक्षयिष्यामि वः कामं राक्षसात्पुरुषादकात् ॥१-१३९-२९॥
Whatever is dear to you, that I shall do. Awaken all these, I shall rescue you all fully from the man-eating demon.
भीम उवाच॥
Bhīma said:
सुखसुप्तान्वने भ्रातृन्मातरं चैव राक्षसि । न भयाद्बोधयिष्यामि भ्रातुस्तव दुरात्मनः ॥१-१३९-३०॥
O demoness, I shall not awaken my peacefully sleeping brothers and mother in the forest out of fear of your evil-souled brother.
न हि मे राक्षसा भीरु सोढुं शक्ताः पराक्रमम् । न मनुष्या न गन्धर्वा न यक्षाश्चारुलोचने ॥१-१३९-३१॥
No demons, O timid one, nor humans, Gandharvas, or Yakṣas are able to withstand my valor, O beautiful-eyed one.
गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा भद्रे यद्वापीच्छसि तत्कुरु । तं वा प्रेषय तन्वङ्गि भ्रातरं पुरुषादकम् ॥१-१३९-३२॥
Go or stay, O gentle one, do as you desire. Or send your man-eating brother, O slender-limbed one.
