03.157
Janamejaya said.
How long did all the great-souled sons of Pāṇḍu, possessed of divine valor, remain on Mount Gandhamādana? (03-157-1)
O most excellent one, tell (me) which eatables were there for those great souls, the heroic ones dwelling (there). (3-157-2)
Tell me in detail about Bhīmasena's valor; whatever the mighty-armed one did on that Himalayan mountain. After that, there was certainly no further battle for him with the Yakṣas, O best of twice-born. (03-157-3)
Was there indeed a meeting of theirs with Vaiśravaṇa? There, Dhanada (Kubera) and Ārṣṭiṣeṇa arrived just as he had spoken. (03-157-4)
O ascetic, I wish to hear all this from you in detail; for, while I listen, I do not find satisfaction with regard to their deeds. (03-157-5)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having heard this instruction, which was for their own benefit and belonged to the one of incomparable brilliance, the foremost among the Bharatas always carried out his command just as directed. (03-157-6)
They eat fruits full of juice that are fit for sages, and even the flesh of deer struck by purified arrows. (3-157-7)
The Pāṇḍavas, the best among the Bharatas, thus lived there on the slopes of the Himalayas, subsisting on pure and various kinds of honey. (03-157-8)
Thus, as they dwelt there, the fifth year came to them, as they listened to the various statements uttered by Lomaśa and others. (03-157-9)
Having said, "I will approach at the proper time," Ghaṭotkaca, along with all the rākṣasas, went ahead beforehand, O Lord. (03-157-10)
While those great-souled ones dwelled in the hermitage of Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa, many months passed as they beheld a great wonder. (03-157-11)
With those Pāṇḍavas, who were enjoying themselves and sporting there, the affectionate, greatly fortunate sages and the Cāraṇas (celestial singers) were also present. (03-157-12)
Perfected beings devoted to vows came to see the Pāṇḍavas; together with them, the best of the Bharatas engaged in divine conversations. (03-157-13)
Then, after a few days, Suparṇa (Garuda) suddenly carried away the prosperous great serpent who was dwelling in the great lake. (03-157-14)
The great mountain trembled, the mighty trees were crushed, and all beings along with the Pāṇḍavas witnessed that marvelous event. (03-157-15)
Then, from the summit of the foremost mountain, the wind blew all the fragrant and auspicious garlands towards the Pāṇḍavas. (03-157-16)
There, the Pāṇḍavas together with friends saw divine flowers of five colors, and Draupadī, the illustrious one, saw them too. (03-157-17)
Then, at the right time, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) spoke to Bhīmasena, who was comfortably seated in a secluded mountain region, his arms mighty. (03-157-18)
O best of the Bharatas, by the swift speed and great force of the Garuda-like wind, five-colored flowers are brought down, clearly, for all beings, towards the river, animals, and chariots. (03-157-19)
O lord of men, in Khāṇḍava, by your truthful brother, Gandharvas, serpents, Rākṣasas, and even Indra were repelled; fierce magicians were slain, and the Gāṇḍīva bow was obtained. (03-157-20)
Your brilliance is very great, and your arm strength is immense; it is irresistible, unassailable, and equal to the strength of Indra. (03-157-21)
By the force of your arm's strength, Bhīmasena, all the rākṣasas, frightened, abandoned the mountain and rushed off in all ten directions. (03-157-22)
Then, let your friends, free from fear and delusion, behold the auspicious peak of the best mountain, adorned with wonderful garlands. (03-157-23)
Thus, O Bhīma, my mind has been set for a long time; I wish to see the mountain summit, relying on your arm's strength. (03-157-24)
Then, as if hurled by Draupadī herself, that mighty-armed scorcher of foes could not endure it, just as a fine ox cannot endure a blow. (03-157-25)
The son of Pāṇḍu, who walks with the gait of a lion, is fortunate, generous, possesses a golden radiance, spirited, strong, proud, high-minded, and courageous. (03-157-26)
Red-eyed, broad-jawed, possessing the vigour of a mad elephant, with fangs like a lion, broad-shouldered, and risen like a young śāla tree. (03-157-27)
The great-souled one, possessing beautiful limbs, a conch-shaped neck, and mighty arms, touched his gold-backed bow, sword, and also the quivers. (03-157-28)
Like a lion, appearing with pride, just as a broken elephant would, the powerful one, whose fear and confusion had been cast aside, rushed toward the mountain. (03-157-29)
All beings saw him, approaching like a lion, like an enraged elephant, bearing arrows, sword, and bow. (03-157-30)
The Pāṇḍava, having taken up his mace and feeling joy for Draupadī—free from fear and confusion—entered the king of mountains. (03-157-31)
Neither dejection nor cowardice, nor weakness nor envy ever affect the son of Pṛthā, the son of Mātariśvan. (03-157-32)
Having reached that single, uneven path, fearful in appearance and of great height, the very strong one ascended the peak. (03-157-33)
The mighty one, delighting the Kinnaras, great Nāgas, sages, Gandharvas, and Rākṣasas, approached the summit of the mountain. (03-157-34)
There, the bull among the Bharatas saw the abode of Vaiśravaṇa, magnificently adorned with mansions of gold and crystal. (03-157-35)
A very pleasant wind, carrying every fragrance and sprung from Gandhamādana, blew there, gladdening all beings. (03-157-36)
There are various trees with variegated, diverse-colored appearances, bearing wonderful flower-clusters and supreme beauty, that are inconceivably splendid. (03-157-37)
The foremost of the Bharatas saw the auspicious abode of the lord of the rākṣasas, which was surrounded by a net of jewels and adorned with varied garlands. (03-157-38)
Bhīmasena, mighty-armed, holding mace, sword, and bow in his hands, stood firm like an immovable mountain, having completely renounced concern for his life. (03-157-39)
Then he blew the conch, which was hair-raising to his enemies; making the twang of the bowstring and the sound of the palm, he bewildered all beings. (03-157-40)
Then the yakṣas, rākṣasas, and gandharvas, their hair standing on end with delight, rushed towards that sound near Pāṇḍava. (03-157-41)
Maces, clubs, swords, spears, tridents, and battle-axes, when grasped, shone (brightly) in the hands of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas. (03-157-42)
Then, O Bhārata, the battle commenced between them and him. The lances, spears, and battle-axes with great bodies, which were hurled by them, Bhīma cut off with arrows of even greater speed. (03-157-43)
The mighty one pierced the bodies of the roaring rākṣasas, both those moving in the sky and those standing on the earth, with his arrows. (3-157-44)
That great red rain poured down mightily; from the bodies of the Rākṣasas, streams (of blood) fell everywhere. (03-157-45)
Bodies and heads of the yakṣas and rākṣasas, severed in many ways by mighty blows of terrible arm-strength, were seen. (3-157-46)
All beings saw the Pāṇḍava of delightful appearance being covered by the rākṣasas, as the sun is (seen) covered by groups of clouds. (03-157-47)
He, the mighty-armed, powerful, and truly valiant one, shone upon all with enemy-destroying arrows, just as the sun does with its rays. (03-157-48)
Though all the rākṣasas threatened, roared, and made great noise, none of them saw Bhīmasena become bewildered. (03-157-49)
They, their bodies pierced by arrows and shaken by fear of Bhīmasena, uttered a loud, anguished cry as their mighty weapons lay scattered about. (3-157-50)
Frightened by the one with the firm bow, they abandoned their clubs, spears, swords, missiles, and axes and fled toward the southern direction. (03-157-51)
There was a rākṣasa named Maṇimān, a friend of Vaiśravaṇa, who was broad-chested, mighty-armed, and bore a spear and a mace in his hands. (03-157-52)
The mighty one displayed his authority and manliness; seeing them turn away, he spoke with a smile, as if amused. (03-157-53)
Having been defeated by a single man, though you are many in number, after reaching the abode of Vaiśravaṇa, what will you say to the lord of wealth? (03-157-54)
Having thus addressed them all, the rākṣasa turned back; with spear, trident, and mace in hand, he rushed toward the Pāṇḍava. (03-157-55)
Bhimasena struck him, who was rushing at speed and, like a shattered elephant, in the side with his three-pronged weapon. (03-157-56)
Maṇimān, though enraged, seized his great mace, whirled it, and with his immense strength hurled it at Bhīmasena. (03-157-57)
Bhimasena attacked the great, very terrible mace in the sky, which had the form of lightning, with many arrows fitted with stone points. (03-157-58)
All those arrows, having approached the mace, were struck again and again; impelled, they could not withstand the force of the mace's momentum. (03-157-59)
Becoming aware of the news of the mace duel, that powerful Bhīma, of terrible prowess, foiled his blow. (03-157-60)
Then, in that very moment, the wise demon hurled a most terrible iron spear with a golden shaft. (03-157-61)
She—the arm, roaring terribly, having pierced Bhīma’s right arm and covered in fiery flames, very fiercely and suddenly fell to the earth. (03-157-62)
Greatly pierced by the spear, the Kaurava—who was a great archer of immeasurable valor and skilled in mace combat—seized his mace. (03-157-63)
Seizing that entirely iron mace and roaring, Bhima, with force, rushed at the mighty Manimanta. (03-157-64)
Seizing the shining great trident, the jewelled one also sent it roaring at great speed towards Bhīmasena. (3-157-65)
Having shattered the spear with the tip of his mace, the mace-combat expert swiftly rushed at him, like Garutmān rushing at a serpent. (03-157-66)
He, the mighty-armed, leaping into the sky, suddenly shook off his mace and, with a roar, hurled it on the battlefield. (03-157-67)
Just as Indra's thunderbolt, hurled by Indra and driven by the swift wind, after slaying the demon, fell to the earth as if it were a magical being, so did it indeed fall down. (03-157-68)
All beings saw that rākṣasa of terrible strength, who was struck down by Bhīmasena, just as the lord of cows is (struck down) by a lion. (03-157-69)
When they saw him slain upon the ground, the surviving night-wanderers uttered a dreadful cry of anguish and fled towards the eastern direction. (03-157-70)
