03.175
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
कथं नागायुतप्राणो भीमसेनो महाबलः। भयमाहारयत्तीव्रं तस्मादजगरान्मुने ॥०३-१७५-१॥
O sage, how did Bhīmasena, whose strength is equal to ten thousand elephants and is greatly powerful, experience such intense fear from that python? (03-175-1)
पौलस्त्यं योऽऽह्वयद्युद्धे धनदं बलदर्पितः। नलिन्यां कदनं कृत्वा वराणां यक्षरक्षसाम् ॥०३-१७५-२॥
Who, being proud of his strength, challenged Dhanada (Kubera), the descendant of Pulastya, in battle and, in the lotus-lake, slaughtered the best among yakṣas and rākṣasas. (03-175-2)
तं शंससि भयाविष्टमापन्नमरिकर्षणम्। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥०३-१७५-३॥
You recount that the destroyer of enemies was overcome by fear and afflicted. I wish to hear this, for I indeed have great curiosity. (03-175-3)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
बह्वाश्चर्ये वने तेषां वसतामुग्रधन्विनाम्। प्राप्तानामाश्रमाद्राजन्राजर्षेर्वृषपर्वणः ॥०३-१७५-४॥
O king, when those fierce bowmen dwelling in the marvelous forest had come from the hermitage of the royal sage Vṛṣaparvan. (03-175-4)
यदृच्छया धनुष्पाणिर्बद्धखड्गो वृकोदरः। ददर्श तद्वनं रम्यं देवगन्धर्वसेवितम् ॥०३-१७५-५॥
Vṛkodara, with his bow in hand and sword at his side, happened upon that beautiful forest frequented by gods and gandharvas. (03-175-5)
स ददर्श शुभान्देशान्गिरेर्हिमवतस्तदा। देवर्षिसिद्धचरितानप्सरोगणसेवितान् ॥०३-१७५-६॥
He then saw the auspicious regions of Mount Himavat, frequented by divine sages and siddhas, and attended by groups of apsarases. (03-175-6)
चकोरैश्चक्रवाकैश्च पक्षिभिर्जीवजीवकैः। कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च तत्र तत्र विनादितान् ॥०३-१७५-७॥
There, everywhere, the place was made resound by chakora birds, cakravāka birds, other birds, jīvajīvaka birds, cuckoos, and black bees. (03-175-7)
नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैर्हिमसंस्पर्शकोमलैः। उपेतान्बहुलच्छायैर्मनोनयननन्दनैः ॥०३-१७५-८॥
(The place) was endowed with trees constantly bearing flowers and fruits, soft to the touch like snow, with plentiful shade, and delightful to both mind and eyes. (03-175-8)
स सम्पश्यन्गिरिनदीर्वैडूर्यमणिसंनिभैः। सलिलैर्हिमसंस्पर्शैर्हंसकारण्डवायुतैः ॥०३-१७५-९॥
He beheld the mountain rivers, their waters resembling beryl jewels, chilled by contact with snow, and filled with swans and ducks. (3-175-9)
वनानि देवदारूणां मेघानामिव वागुराः। हरिचन्दनमिश्राणि तुङ्गकालीयकान्यपि ॥०३-१७५-१०॥
Forests of deodar trees, like nets of clouds, intermingled with haricandana, also contained lofty Kālīyaka trees. (03-175-10)
मृगयां परिधावन्स समेषु मरुधन्वसु। विध्यन्मृगाञ्शरैः शुद्धैश्चचार सुमहाबलः ॥०३-१७५-११॥
Roaming about during the hunt, running swiftly in the open plains and deserts, and shooting deer with pure arrows, the very powerful one wandered. (3-175-11)
स ददर्श महाकायं भुजङ्गं लोमहर्षणम्। गिरिदुर्गे समापन्नं कायेनावृत्य कन्दरम् ॥०३-१७५-१२॥
He saw a huge, fearsome serpent in the mountain stronghold, whose massive body covered the cave. (03-175-12)
पर्वताभोगवर्ष्माणं भोगैश्चन्द्रार्कमण्डलैः। चित्राङ्गमजिनैश्चित्रैर्हरिद्रासदृशच्छविम् ॥०३-१७५-१३॥
It had a form the size of a mountain by its coils, decorated with the circles of the moon and sun, a variegated body, adorned with many-colored skins, and a sheen resembling turmeric. (03-175-13)
गुहाकारेण वक्त्रेण चतुर्दंष्ट्रेण राजता। दीप्ताक्षेणातिताम्रेण लिहन्तं सृक्किणी मुहुः ॥०३-१७५-१४॥
With a mouth shaped like a cave, four fangs, shining, with blazing and exceedingly red eyes, licking the corners of its mouth again and again. (03-175-14)
त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां कालान्तकयमोपमम्। निःश्वासक्ष्वेडनादेन भर्त्सयन्तमिव स्थितम् ॥०३-१७५-१५॥
Standing there causing fear to all beings, resembling Kāla and Antaka (Yama), as if frightening (them) with the sound of its breath and neighing. (03-175-15)
स भीमं सहसाभ्येत्य पृदाकुः क्षुधितो भृशम्। जग्राहाजगरो ग्राहो भुजयोरुभयोर्बलात् ॥०३-१७५-१६॥
That Pṛdākuḥ, exceedingly hungry, suddenly approached Bhīma and, as a powerful python, forcefully seized both of his arms. (03-175-16)
तेन संस्पृष्टमात्रस्य भिमसेनस्य वै तदा। सञ्ज्ञा मुमोह सहसा वरदानेन तस्य ह ॥०३-१७५-१७॥
Then, as soon as Bhīmasena was touched by him, his consciousness suddenly became bewildered by the boon he had granted. (03-175-17)
दश नागसहस्राणि धारयन्ति हि यद्बलम्। तद्बलं भीमसेनस्य भुजयोरसमं परैः ॥०३-१७५-१८॥
The strength which ten thousand elephants indeed possess is unequalled by others to the might of Bhīmasena's two arms. (3-175-18)
स तेजस्वी तथा तेन भुजगेन वशीकृतः। विस्फुरञ्शनकैर्भीमो न शशाक विचेष्टितुम् ॥०३-१७५-१९॥
Bhima, though powerful, being subdued by that serpent, and twitching slowly, was unable to move. (03-175-19)
नागायुतसमप्राणः सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः। गृहीतो व्यजहात्सत्त्वं वरदानेन मोहितः ॥०३-१७५-२०॥
With the strength of a multitude of elephants, lion-like shoulders, and mighty arms, when seized he, bewildered by the boon, gave up his life. (03-175-20)
स हि प्रयत्नमकरोत्तीव्रमात्मविमोक्षणे। न चैनमशकद्वीरः कथञ्चित्प्रतिबाधितुम् ॥०३-१७५-२१॥
He indeed put forth great effort to free himself, and the hero could not obstruct him by any means. (03-175-21)
