03.153
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then he accepted those most precious, divine, many spotless objects of various forms, O bull among the Bharatas. (3-153-1)
Then a great, swift wind arose, blowing downward and sweeping gravel, its touch harsh, driving toward the battle. (03-153-2)
A great and brilliant meteor, accompanied by thunderous noise, fell; and the sun became dim, his rays hidden and shrouded in darkness. (03-153-3)
A terrible thunderbolt occurred when Bhīma undertook valour; the earth trembled, and a rain of dust also fell. (03-153-4)
The directions turned red, and the animals and birds cried out harshly. Everything became shrouded in darkness; nothing at all was visible. (03-153-5)
Beholding that extraordinary event, Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira spoke to the foremost of speakers: Who will defeat us? (03-153-6)
Be ready, good fortune to you, O Pāṇḍavas, proud warriors in battle. Just as I see things, our valor is surpassing itself. (03-153-7)
Having said this, then the king surveyed all around. Not finding Bhīma, the righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira looked everywhere for him. (03-153-8)
There, Kṛṣṇa and the two brothers (the twins), while the conqueror of enemies stood nearby, asked his brother Bhīma, who was mighty in battle. (03-153-9)
O Pāñcālī, Bhima, who is fond of daring, does he wish to do something rash or has the hero already performed some daring act? (03-153-10)
These signs, indeed, sudden portents of a great battle, have appeared on all sides, showing intense fear. (03-153-11)
Draupadī, the wise and beloved queen with a charming smile, answered him in this way, wishing to please her beloved. (03-153-12)
O king, the Saugandhika flower which was brought by Mātariśvan is today offered by me to please Bhīmasena. (3-153-13)
And further, I told the hero: 'If he should see many (things) also, let him take all of those and quickly come thus.' (03-153-14)
But indeed, O king, my son Arjuna, the mighty-armed Pāṇḍava, has surely gone from here to the north-eastern direction to fetch those things. (03-153-15)
When thus addressed by her, the king then spoke to the Yama-knower, "Let us quickly go together by the way by which Vrikodara (Bhima) has gone." (03-153-16)
Let the rākṣasas carry the brāhmaṇas who are neither weary nor emaciated; and you too, O Ghaṭotkaca, like the immortals, carry Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī). (03-153-17)
It is clear to me that Bhima has gone a long way from here; he has been gone for a long time, and he is as swift as the wind. (03-153-18)
He was energetic, equal to Vinata's son (Garuḍa) in leaping on earth; he could leap up into the sky and descend at will. (03-153-19)
We, the night-wanderers, pursue him because of your power. Formerly, he did not offend the perfected beings, the speakers of Brahman. (03-153-20)
O bull among the Bharatas, after thus speaking, all of them, headed by Haiḍimba, then, knowing the way to Kubera, set out along the Nalinī (river). (03-153-21)
Having gathered the Pāṇḍavas and those numerous Brahmins, all of them, accompanied by Lomaśa, departed with joyful hearts. (03-153-22)
All of them went together and saw there in the forest a very beautiful lotus pond full of blooming lotuses. (03-153-23)
They saw him, the terrible and great-souled one, standing on her bank; and also the yakṣas with very large eyes who had been slain. (03-153-24)
Having raised his club with both arms, he stood on the riverbank like Antaka (the god of death) with staff in hand at the time of destruction of living beings. (03-153-25)
Seeing him, King Yudhishthira embraced him again and again and, with gentle words, said: "Son of Kunti, what is this that has been done?" (03-153-26)
Indeed, rashness may be good for you, but it is disagreeable even to the gods; do not act like this again, if you wish to please me. (03-153-27)
After instructing and having received the lotuses, the son of Kuntī; in that very lotus-lake, they sported like gods. (03-153-28)
But at that very moment, the great-bodied guards of that garden, having taken up stone weapons, appeared. (03-153-29)
O Bhārata, having seen Dharmaraja, the divine sage Lomasha, Nakula, Sahadeva, and other foremost Brāhmaṇas, they all bowed down with humility and prostrated themselves. (03-153-30)
Consoled by Dharmarāja, the night-wanderers rejoiced. After being recognized by Kubera, the foremost of men stayed there for not very long, enjoying themselves, O Kurudvaha. (03-153-31)
