05.073

वैशम्पायन उवाच॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाबाहुः केशवः प्रहसन्निव। अभूतपूर्वं भीमस्य मार्दवोपगतं वचः ॥५-७३-१॥

Hearing this, Keśava, the strong-armed one, as if smiling, found Bhīma's gentle speech to be something unprecedented. (5-73-1)

गिरेरिव लघुत्वं तच्छीतत्वमिव पावके। मत्वा रामानुजः शौरिः शार्ङ्गधन्वा वृकोदरम् ॥५-७३-२॥

Perceiving in Bhīma, as it were, the lightness of a mountain and, as in fire, coldness, Kṛṣṇa, the younger brother of Rāma and wielder of the Śārṅga bow... (5-73-2)

सन्तेजयंस्तदा वाग्भिर्मातरिश्वेव पावकम्। उवाच भीममासीनं कृपयाभिपरिप्लुतम् ॥५-७३-३॥

Then, rousing him with words like the wind does to fire, he spoke to Bhīma, who was seated and overwhelmed with compassion. (5-73-3)

त्वमन्यदा भीमसेन युद्धमेव प्रशंससि। वधाभिनन्दिनः क्रूरान्धार्तराष्ट्रान्मिमर्दिषुः ॥५-७३-४॥

You, Bhimasena, who in the past praised only battle, who delighted in the slaughter of the cruel sons of Dhritarashtra and sought to crush them, (5-73-4)

न च स्वपिषि जागर्षि न्युब्जः शेषे परन्तप। घोरामशान्तां रुशतीं सदा वाचं प्रभाषसे ॥५-७३-५॥

You neither sleep nor stay awake; lying curled up, scorcher of foes, you always utter terrible, restless, agitated words. (5-73-5)

निःश्वसन्नग्निवर्णेन सन्तप्तः स्वेन मन्युना। अप्रशान्तमना भीम सधूम इव पावकः ॥५-७३-६॥

Breathing heavily, fiery in appearance, tormented by your own anger, with a restless mind, Bhima, you are like a blazing fire with smoke. (5-73-6)

एकान्ते निष्टनञ्शेषे भारार्त इव दुर्बलः। अपि त्वां केचिदुन्मत्तं मन्यन्तेऽतद्विदो जनाः ॥५-७३-७॥

Groaning in solitude as you lie there, weighed down by grief and feeble as if crushed, yet some ignorant people think you are mad. (5-73-7)

आरुज्य वृक्षान्निर्मूलान्गजः परिभुजन्निव। निघ्नन्पद्भिः क्षितिं भीम निष्टनन्परिधावसि ॥५-७३-८॥

Bhima, uprooting trees by their roots like an elephant devouring them, striking the ground with your feet, you roar as you run about. (5-73-8)

नास्मिञ्जनेऽभिरमसे रहः क्षियसि पाण्डव। नान्यं निशि दिवा वापि कदाचिदभिनन्दसि ॥५-७३-९॥

You do not take pleasure among these people, Pāṇḍava—you spend your time alone; you do not welcome anyone else, at night or even by day, at any time. (5-73-9)

अकस्मात्स्मयमानश्च रहस्यास्से रुदन्निव। जान्वोर्मूर्धानमाधाय चिरमास्से प्रमीलितः ॥५-७३-१०॥

Suddenly smiling and sitting privately, you seem as if weeping, sitting for a long time with your forehead on your knees, your eyes closed. (5-73-10)

भ्रुकुटिं च पुनः कुर्वन्नोष्ठौ च विलिहन्निव। अभीक्ष्णं दृश्यसे भीम सर्वं तन्मन्युकारितम् ॥५-७३-११॥

Bhima, you are seen again and again frowning, as if licking your lips, and all of that is caused by your anger. (5-73-11)

यथा पुरस्तात्सविता दृश्यते शुक्रमुच्चरन्। यथा च पश्चान्निर्मुक्तो ध्रुवं पर्येति रश्मिवान् ॥५-७३-१२॥

Just as the sun, shining, is seen rising in the east, and, having set in the west, the radiant one certainly returns... (5-73-12)

तथा सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतन्नास्ति तस्य व्यतिक्रमः। हन्ताहं गदयाभ्येत्य दुर्योधनममर्षणम् ॥५-७३-१३॥

In the same way, I tell you the truth—there is no transgression by him. Now I will approach and strike Duryodhana the impatient with my mace. (5-73-13)

इति स्म मध्ये भ्रातॄणां सत्येनालभसे गदाम्। तस्य ते प्रशमे बुद्धिर्धीयतेऽद्य परन्तप ॥५-७३-१४॥

Thus, in the midst of your brothers, you win the mace by your truthfulness; today, your mind is turned toward forbearance toward him, O scorcher of foes. (5-73-14)

अहो युद्धप्रतीपानि युद्धकाल उपस्थिते। पश्यसीवाप्रतीपानि किं त्वां भीर्भीम विन्दति ॥५-७३-१५॥

Ah, although there are unfavorable omens for war when the time of battle is here, it seems you see them as favorable ones—or is it that fear grips you, Bhīma? (5-73-15)

अहो पार्थ निमित्तानि विपरीतानि पश्यसि। स्वप्नान्ते जागरान्ते च तस्मात्प्रशममिच्छसि ॥५-७३-१६॥

Ah, Pārtha, you see adverse omens, both in dreams and in waking, and so you desire peace. (5-73-16)

अहो नाशंससे किञ्चित्पुंस्त्वं क्लीब इवात्मनि। कश्मलेनाभिपन्नोऽसि तेन ते विकृतं मनः ॥५-७३-१७॥

Ah, you do not hope for any manliness in yourself, as if you were unmanly. Overcome by faintheartedness, your mind is disturbed because of that. (5-73-17)

उद्वेपते ते हृदयं मनस्ते प्रविषीदति। ऊरुस्तम्भगृहीतोऽसि तस्मात्प्रशममिच्छसि ॥५-७३-१८॥

Your heart is trembling, your mind is sinking, your thighs are gripped by stiffness—you are thus, and so you long for calm. (5-73-18)

अनित्यं किल मर्त्यस्य चित्तं पार्थ चलाचलम्। वातवेगप्रचलिता अष्ठीला शाल्मलेरिव ॥५-७३-१९॥

Indeed, Pārtha, the mind of a mortal is impermanent—fickle and unstable, like the rootless silk-cotton tree blown about by gusts of wind. (5-73-19)

तवैषा विकृता बुद्धिर्गवां वागिव मानुषी। मनांसि पाण्डुपुत्राणां मज्जयत्यप्लवानिव ॥५-७३-२०॥

Your mind is disturbed—like the speech of cows made human—and, like those without a raft, it confuses the minds of the Pandu sons. (5-73-20)

इदं मे महदाश्चर्यं पर्वतस्येव सर्पणम्। यदीदृशं प्रभाषेथा भीमसेनासमं वचः ॥५-७३-२१॥

To me, this is a great wonder, like a mountain sliding: that you would speak such words, a speech not befitting Bhimasena. (5-73-21)

स दृष्ट्वा स्वानि कर्माणि कुले जन्म च भारत। उत्तिष्ठस्व विषादं मा कृथा वीर स्थिरो भव ॥५-७३-२२॥

So, considering your own deeds, your family, and your birth, O Bhārata, rise up—do not give in to despair! Be steadfast, hero. (5-73-22)

न चैतदनुरूपं ते यत्ते ग्लानिररिंदम। यदोजसा न लभते क्षत्रियो न तदश्नुते ॥५-७३-२३॥

And this despair of yours is not befitting you, O conqueror of foes; that which a kshatriya does not attain by force, he does not enjoy. (5-73-23)