03.152
Bhīma said.
I, Bhīmasena, the son of Pāṇḍu, immediately after Dharma's son, reached the great Badarī together with my brothers, the Rākṣasas. (03-152-1)
There, Panchali saw the finest Saugandhika flower carried here by the wind; surely, she desires to obtain many such flowers. (03-152-2)
O night-wanderers, know that I, the beloved lawful wife with flawless limbs, am here, having received only food made of flowers. (03-152-3)
The rākṣasas said;
O best of men, this pleasure-garden, beloved of Kubera, is not possible to be enjoyed here by a man subject to mortal nature. (03-152-4)
Divine sages, yakṣas, and gods here, O Vṛkodara, after addressing the foremost of the yakṣas, drink and sport. Gandharvas and apsarases also sport here, O Pāṇḍava. (03-152-5)
Whoever, here, by unjust means, wishes to enjoy by disregarding the wealthy man, being of bad conduct, he would certainly perish without doubt. (03-152-6)
How can you, disregarding him, wish to seize the lotuses by force from here, and call yourself the brother of Dharmarāja? (03-152-7)
Bhima said.
I do not see that lord of wealth, the demons, here nearby. Even having seen the great king, I am not able to beg. (03-152-8)
Kings indeed never beg; this is an eternal duty. Nor do I wish, in any way, to abandon the warrior's duty. (03-152-9)
And this beautiful lotus-pond has appeared in the mountain stream; this is not the abode reached of the great-souled Kubera. (03-152-10)
This wealth of Vaiśravaṇa also is equal for all beings; thus, regarding wealth as it is, who is worthy to beg from whom? (03-152-11)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having thus addressed all the rākṣasas, Bhīmasena advanced; then he, the mighty one, was opposed by the rākṣasas with words, as they angrily rebuked him from all sides, saying, "Do not, not thus." (03-152-12)
But having oppressed those rākṣasas, he of terrible valor entered; yet all those greatly powerful ones prevented him. (03-152-13)
"Seize him, bind him, cut him down! We will cook and eat Bhīmasena." In anger, uttering these words, they quickly pursued, raising their weapons, their eyes wide with fury. (3-152-14)
Then, having seized the massive, great mace resembling the staff of Yama and bound with gold, the mighty one rushed at them and said, "Stand still, stand still." (03-152-15)
Then those fierce warriors, desiring to kill, overpowered by anger and extremely terrifying, having thoroughly pierced him with spears, lances, and other weapons, suddenly attacked and surrounded Bhīma on all sides. (3-152-16)
He was born strong in Kuntī by the wind-god; heroic, energetic, the destroyer of enemies. Always devoted to truth and righteousness; in valor, unassailable by enemies. (03-152-17)
He, the great-souled one, having destroyed the weapons of his enemies in various ways, just as a hero strikes down countless foes lacking in valor near the lotus-pond, killed hundreds of his adversaries. (03-152-18)
Seeing his prowess and strength, his knowledge and physical might likewise, all of them together, unable to oppose him, their heroism broken, suddenly retreated. (03-152-19)
They, bursting forth from there itself in haste, not taking to the sky but instead, bewildered in mind, ran towards the peaks of Kailāsa; overwhelmed by Bhīma, driven by anger, and utterly broken. (03-152-20)
He, like Indra, having overcome the hosts of Dānavas and Daityas and conquered the bands of enemies in battle, entered that lotus pond, and, desiring, then took the lotuses. (03-152-21)
Then, having drunk water like nectar, he regained his excellent strength and energy. He then uprooted and took the lotuses—the Saugandhika ones, possessing supreme fragrance. (03-152-22)
Then, however, those men, controlled by anger, having assembled, approached Dhaneśvara, distressed by Bhīma's might; extremely dejected, they told him, as it happened, of Bhīma’s energy and strength in the battle. (03-152-23)
Hearing their words, the god smiled and then spoke to the rakṣasas: 'Let Bhīma take the aquatic things as he wishes; I know this is for the sake of Kṛṣṇā.' (03-152-24)
Then, after taking leave of Dhaneśvara, they, free from anger, went to the best of the Kurus. There in the lotus-lake, they saw Bhīma, wandering alone as he pleased. (03-152-25)
