03.079
Janamejaya said.
O Lord, when my great-grandfather went from Kāmyaka forest with Pārtha, what did the Pāṇḍavas do without him, Savyasācin? (03-79-1)
He, the great archer and conqueror of armies, was indeed their support. Just as Viṣṇu is among the Ādityas, so he appears to me. (03-79-2)
How could the heroic ancestors, who were as powerful as Indra and never turned back in battle, have survived in the forest without him? (03-79-3)
Vaiśampāyana said.
But, O dear one, when Arjuna the Pāṇḍava departed from Kāmyaka, those Kauravas became overcome with sorrow and grief. (03-79-4)
The Pāṇḍavas then all became discontented in mind, like gems whose strings have been pulled out or like twice-born ones with their wings cut off. (03-79-5)
And that forest was deprived by him whose actions were unfatigued, just as the Caitraratha forest was deprived by Kubera. (03-79-6)
O Janamejaya, except for him, the tiger among men, the Pāṇḍavas then dwelt in Kāmyaka forest without attaining any joy. (03-79-7)
O best of the Bharatas, the great chariot-warriors, who were valiant, slew animals of many kinds fit for sacrifice with pure arrows, for the sake of a brāhmaṇa. (03-79-8)
The valiant men, always destroyers of enemies, would collect forest food and distribute it, offering it to the Brāhmaṇas. (03-79-9)
Thus, O King, those foremost among men stayed there longing for Dhanañjaya, all with heavy hearts, when he had departed. (03-79-10)
Then Pāñcālī, remembering her middle husband, the best of the Pāṇḍavas, spoke this speech in the absence of the heroic man. (03-79-11)
To me, O best of the Pāṇḍavas, except for him who is like Arjuna—two-armed among those with many arms—the forest does not appeal. (03-79-12)
And I see this earth as if empty here and there. (03-79-12)
This forest, so full of flowering trees, is indeed very wonderful; yet it is not so pleasant to me without Savyasācin (Arjuna). (03-79-13)
The Kāmyaka forest does not appear very beautiful to me without him, the lotus-eyed one, whose appearance is like a dark cloud and whose stride is like that of a proud elephant. (03-79-14)
O king, remembering Savyasācin (Arjuna), whose bow's sound resembles thunder, I find no peace. (03-79-15)
Thus, O great king, hearing Draupadi lamenting, Bhimasena, the slayer of enemy heroes, said this to her. (03-79-16)
O auspicious and slender-waisted lady, whatever pleasing words you speak delight my heart like the taste of nectar. (03-79-17)
He whose two arms are long, equal, thick, resembling iron clubs, fitted with hempen wrist-guards, rounded, and bear a sword, other weapons, and a mace. (03-79-18)
Except for that tiger among men—who wears diadems fashioned from armlets like serpents with five heads—this forest is as if the sun has disappeared. (03-79-19)
Having resorted to that mighty-armed one, the Pāñcālas and likewise the Kurus do not fear, even in battles among the striving gods. (03-79-20)
By taking refuge in the arms of that great-souled one, we all believe that we have conquered our enemies in battle and gained the earth. (03-79-21)
Without him, Arjuna the hero, I find no composure in Kamyaka; and I see this very earth everywhere as if empty. (03-79-22)
Nakula said.
He, having gone to the northern direction and having conquered in battle the greatly powerful chiefs of the Gandharvas, obtained hundreds of horses; that (was) the son of Vasava (Arjuna). (03-79-23)
O King, the fortunate son of Anila affectionately gave the spotted quails to his brother during the great rājasūya sacrifice. (03-79-24)
Except for him, Bhīmasena, the younger brother of Bhīma, I do not now desire residence in Kāmyaka or even one like that of the gods. (03-79-25)
Sahadeva said.
He who, having conquered great warriors in battle, formerly brought riches and maidens to the king at the rājasūya, the great sacrifice. (03-79-26)
He who, after defeating the assembled Yādavas in battle, and endowed with immeasurable splendor, alone carried away Subhadrā with the approval of Vāsudeva. (03-79-27)
O great king, seeing the bow-rest of the victorious one lying empty at the resting place, my heart is never at peace. (03-79-28)
But, O subduer of foes, leaving this forest is pleasing to me. Indeed, O hero, except for you, this forest is not pleasant for us. (03-79-29)
