वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः कुन्ती च राजा च भीष्मश्च सह बन्धुभिः। ददुः श्राद्धं तदा पाण्डोः स्वधामृतमयं तदा॥
Vaishampayana said : Then Bhishma, the king (Dhritarashtra) and Kunti with their friends, celebrated the Shraddha of Pandu and offered the ambrosial Pinda.
कुरूंश्च विप्रमुख्यांश्च भोजयित्वा सहस्रशः। रत्नौघान् विप्रमुख्येभ्यो दत्त्वा ग्रामवरांस्तथा॥
They feasted the Kurus and also many thousands of Brahmanas, whom they gave many gems and much wealth with many villages.
कृतशौचांस्ततस्तु पाण्डवान् भरतर्षभान्। आदाय विविशुः सर्वे पुरं वारणसाह्वयम्॥
Thus being cleansed to Hastinapur with those best of the Bharata race, the sons of Pandu.
सततं स्मानुशोचन्तस्तमेव भरतर्षभम्। पौरजानपदाः सर्वे मृतं स्वमिव बान्धवम्॥
All the citizens and the people bewailed for that best of the Bharata race (Pandu), as if they had lost their own relative.
श्राद्धावसाने तु तदा दृष्ट्वा तं दुःखितं जनम्। सम्मूढां दुःखशोका” व्यासो मातरमब्रवीत्॥
After the completion of the Shraddha Vyasa, seeing all the people plunged in grief, spoke to his bereaved and greatly afflicted mother (Satyavati) thus,
अतिक्रान्तसुखा: काला: पर्युपस्थितदारुणाः। श्वः श्वः पापिष्ठदिवसाः पृथिवी गतयौवना॥
“The days of happiness are gone; the days of misery have come. Sin begins to increase day by day; the world has lost its youth.
बहुमायासमाकीर्णो नानादोषसमाकुलः। लुप्तधर्मक्रियाचारो घोरः कालो भविष्यति॥
The fearful Time, endued with many Mayas, full of various faults and loss of all virtuous acts, will now come.
कुरूणामनयाच्चापि पृथिवी न भविष्यति। गच्छ त्वं योगमास्थाय युक्ता वस तपोवने॥
By the evil doings of the Kurus the world will be destroyed; (therefore) go into the forest of asceticism, devoting yourself to Yoga meditation.
मा द्राक्षीस्त्वं कुलस्यास्य घोरं संक्षयमात्मनः। तथेति समनुज्ञाय सा प्रविश्याब्रवीत् स्नुषाम्॥
Do not be able witness of the terrible annihilation of your own race. Saying "Be it so," she entered the inner apartments and addressed her daughters-in-law thus.
अम्बिके तव पौत्रस्य दुर्नयात् किल भारतः। सानुबन्धा विनक्ष्यन्ति पौराश्चैवेति नः श्रुतम्॥
"O Ambika, have heard that inconsequence of the evil deeds of your grandsons, this Bharata dynasty with its subjects will perish.
तत् कौसल्यामिमामा" पुत्रशोकाभिपीडिताम्। वनमादाय भद्रं ते गच्छामि यदि मन्यसे॥
If you give me permission, I shall go to the forest with Kausalya, so grieved at the loss of her son."
तथेत्युक्ता त्वम्बिकया भीष्ममामन्त्र्य सुव्रता। वनं ययौ सत्यवती स्नुषाभ्यां सह भारत॥
O descendant of the Bharata race, having said this to Ambika and taking the permission of Bhishma, Satyavati of excellent vows went to the forest with her daughter-in-law.
ताः सुघोरं तपस्तप्त्वा देव्यो भरतसत्तम। देहं त्यक्त्वा महाराज गतिमिष्टां ययुस्तदा॥
O best of the Bharata race, she perforined severe asceticism. O great king, she then gave up her body and obtained heaven.
वैशम्पायन उवाच अथाप्तवन्तो वेदोक्तान् संस्कारान् पाण्डवास्तदा। संव्यवर्धन्त भोगांस्ते भुञ्जानाः पितृवेश्मनि॥
Then the sons of king Pandu, after performing all the purifying rites mentioned in the Vedas, began to grow up in a royal style in the house of their father.
धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च सहिताः क्रीडन्तो मुदिताः सुखम्। बालक्रीडासु सर्वासु विशिष्टास्तेजसाभवन्॥
They played in great joy with the sons of Dhritarashtra; and they excelled them all in the boyish sports with their superior strength.
जवे लक्ष्याभिहरणे भोज्ये पांसुविकर्षणे। धार्तराष्ट्रान् भीमसेनः सर्वान् स परिमर्दति॥
In speed, in striking the object aimed at, in eating, in scattering dust, Bhimasena beat all the sons of Dhritarashtra.
हर्षात् प्रक्रीडमानांस्तान् गृह्य राजन् निलीयते। शिरःसु विनिगृह्येतान् योधयामास पाण्डवैः॥ शतमेकोत्तरं तेषां कुमाराणां महौजसाम्। एक एव निगृहणाति नातिकृच्छ्राद् वृकोदरः॥ कचेषु च निगृह्येनान् विनिहत्य बलाद् बली। चकर्ष क्रोशतो भूमौ घृष्टजानुशिरोंऽसकान्॥
O king, that son of Pandu (Bhima), when they were all engaged in sports, pulled them by the hair and made them fight with one another, laughing all the while. Vrikodara (Bhima) easily defeated those one hundred and one (Dhritarashtra's) sons of great energy, as if they were but one instead of one hundred and one. He sized them by the hair and throwing them down, he dragged them along the ground; some breaking their knees, some their heads and some their shoulders.
दश बालाञ्जले क्रीडन् भुजाभ्यां परिगृह्य सः। आस्ते स्म सलिले मग्नो मृतकल्पान् विमुञ्चति॥
When playing in the water, he sometimes seized ten of them by his arms and drowned them in the water. He left them off only when they were almost dead.
फलानि वृक्षमारुह्य विचन्वन्ति च ते तदा। तदा पादप्रहारेण भीमः कम्पयते दुमान्॥
When they got upon a tree together fruits, Bhima shook the tree by striking it with his feet.
प्रहारवेगाभिहता दुमा व्याधूर्णितास्ततः। सफलाः प्रपतन्ति स्म दुतं त्रस्ता: कुमारकाः॥
Being shaken and whirled by that shock, down came with all speed the princes with the fruits.
न ते नियुद्धे न जवे न योग्यासु कदाचन। कुमारा उत्तरं चक्रुः स्पर्धमाना वृकोदरम्॥
In speed, in pugilistic encounters, or in speed, the princes could not excel Bhima in any way.
एवं स धार्तराष्ट्रांश्च स्पर्धमानो वृकोदरः। अप्रियेऽतिष्ठदत्यन्तं बाल्यान्न द्रोहचेतसा॥
Bhima thus prided himself by tormenting the sons of Dhritarashtra out of boyish pranks. In fact he had no ill will towards them.
ततो बलमतिख्यातं धार्तराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्। भीमसेनस्य तज्ज्ञात्वा दुष्टभावमदर्शयत्॥
Seeing these extraordinary exhibitions of strength by Bhima, the mighty armed eldest of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana), the conceived hostility towards him.
तस्य धर्मादपेतस्य पापानि परिपश्यतः। मोहादैश्वर्यलोभाच्च पापा मतिर जायत॥
The wicked and unrighteous (Duryodhana), through ignorance and ambition (of possessing wealth), inclined to commit acts of sin. son
अयं बलवतां श्रेष्ठः कुन्तीपुत्रो वृकोदरः। मध्यमः पाण्डुपुत्राणां निकृत्या संनिगृह्यताम्॥
(He thought), the son of Kunti, this Vrikodara (Bhima, this second Pandava, is the foremost in strength, I must destroy him by artifice.
प्राणवान् विक्रमी चैव शौर्येण महतान्वितः। स्पर्धते चापि सहितानस्मानेको वृकोदरः॥
The greatly strong and powerful Bhima challenges one hundred of us in pride.
तं तु सुतं पुरोद्याने गङ्गायां प्रक्षिपामहे। अथ तस्मादवरजं श्रेष्ठं चैव युधिष्ठिरम्॥ प्रसह्य बन्धने बद्ध्वा प्रशासिष्ये वसुंधराम्। एवं स निश्चयं पापः कृत्वा दुर्योधनस्तदा। नित्यमेवान्तरप्रेक्षी भीमस्यासीन्महात्मनः॥
Therefore, when he will be asleep in the gardens of the palace, we shall throw him into the Gangas. Afterwards confining his eldest brother Yudhisthira and his younger brother (Arjuna), I shall reign soie king over the earth.' Duryodhana, having determined to do this wicked act, watched for an opportunity to injure Bhima.
ततो जलविहारार्थं कारयामास भारत। चैलकम्बलवेश्मानि विचित्राणि महान्ति च॥
O descendant of Bharata, he built for the purpose of water sport an extraordinary and beautiful palace.
सर्वकामैः सुपूर्णानि पताकोच्छायवन्ति च। तत्र संजनयामास नानागाराण्यनेकशः॥
With many rooms filled with all sorts of luxuries, decorated with hangings of broad cloth and with banners flying from its top.
उदकक्रीडनं नाम कारयामास भारत। प्रमाणकोट्यां तं देशं स्थलं किंचिदुपेत्य ह॥
O descendant of Bharata, its name was "water sport house" and it was situated in the Country named Pramanakota.
भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च पेयं च चोष्यं लेह्यमथापि च। उपपादितं नरैस्तत्र कुशलैः सूदकर्मणि॥
The cooks, expert in wicked acts, kept there ready various kinds of viands (drinkable, likeable, chewable and suckable).
न्यवेदयंस्तत् पुरुषा धात्रराष्ट्राय वै तदा। ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र पाण्डवानाह दुर्मतिः॥
When all was ready, they gave information to the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana.) Thereupon the wicked minded Duryodhana said to the Pandavas.
गङ्गां चैवानुयास्याम उद्यानवनशोभिताम्। सहिता भ्रातरः सर्वे जलक्रीडामवाप्नुमः॥
"Let us all brothers go to the banks of the Gangas, adorned with gardens and wood, there to sport in the water.
एवमस्त्विति तं चापि प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः। ते रथैर्नगराकारैर्देशजैश्च गजोत्तमैः॥ निर्युयुर्नगराच्छूराः कौरवाः पाण्डवैः सह। उद्यानवनमासाद्य विसृज्य च महाजनम्॥ विशन्ति स्म तदा वीराः सिंहा इव गिरेर्गुहाम्। उद्यानमभिपश्यन्तो भ्रातरः सर्व एव ते॥
Yudhisthira replied by saying, “Let it be so." The Kurus with the Pandavas, mounted on cars resembling cities and on excellent native elephants, left the town. Arriving at that garden and wood, they dismissed their attendants. They surveyed the beauty of the garden and the wood; and then those heroes, all the brothers, entered the palace as lions enter the mountain caves.
उपस्थानगृहैः शुभैर्वलभीभिश्च शोभितम्। गवाक्षकैस्तथा जालैर्यन्त्रैः सांचारिकैरपि॥ सम्मार्जितं सौधकारैश्चित्रकारैश्च चित्रितम्। दीर्घिकाभिश्च पूर्णाभिस्तथा पद्माकरैरपि॥ जलं तच्छुशुभे छन्नं फुल्लैर्जलरुहैस्तथा। उपच्छन्ना वसुमती तथा पुष्पैर्यथर्तुकैः॥
On entering the palace they saw that its windows looked vary graceful; and its artificial water fountains were splendid. The architects had handsomely plastered the walls and the ceilings and the painters had painted them beautifully. There were tanks of pure water in which blossomed thousands of lotuses. Their banks were decked with various flowers whose fragrance filled the atmosphere and the grounds, were all over covered with the season flowers.
तत्रोपविष्टास्ते सर्वे पाण्डवाः कौरवाश्च ह। उपपन्नान् बहून् कामांस्ते भुञ्जन्ति ततस्ततः॥
On entering the palace, all the Kurus and the Pandavas sat down and began to enjoy the luxurious things provided for them.
अथोद्यानवरे तस्मिंस्तथा क्रीडागताश्च ते। परस्परस्य वक्त्रेभ्यो ददुर्भक्ष्यांस्ततस्ततः॥ ततो दुर्योधनः पापस्तद्भक्ष्ये कालकूटकम्। विषं प्रक्षेपयामास भीमसेनजिघांसया॥
They then began to play and exchange morsels of food with one another. The wicked Duryodhana had mixed some virulent poison with the food of Bhimasena with the desire of making away with him.
स्वयमुत्थाय चैवाथ हृदयेन क्षुरोपमः। स वाचामृतकल्पश्च भ्रातृवच्च सुहृद् यथा॥ स्वयं प्रक्षिपते भक्ष्यं बहु भीमस्य पापकृत्। प्रतीच्छितं स्म भीमेन तं वै दोषमजानता॥ ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र हृदयेन हसन्निवा कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यते पुरुषाधमः॥
That wicked youth, whose heart was a razor, but whose tongue was ambrosia, rose like a (loving) brother and friend. The wicked man himself fed (Bhima) with a large quantity of it. Bhima too ate it, knowing that there was nothing wrong. Thereupon Duryodhana felt himself very happy in his mind; that worst of men thought that he had compassed his end.
ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे जलक्रीडामकुर्वत। पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च तदा मुदितमानसाः॥
They then, all the Pandavas and the Kurus, were joyfully engaged in sporting in the water.
क्रीडावसानं ते सर्वे शुचिवस्त्रा स्वलंकृताः। दिवसान्ते परिश्रान्ता विहृत्य च कुरूद्वहाः॥ विहारावसथेष्वेव वीरा वासमरोचयन्। खिन्नस्तु बलवान् भीमोव्यायम्याभ्यधिकं तदा॥ वाहयित्वा कुमारांस्ताञ्जलक्रीडागतांस्तदा। प्रमाणकोट्यां वासार्थी सुष्वापावाप्य तत् स्थलम्।।५२।
At the end of the spot, they dressed themselves with white garments and decked themselves with various ornaments. In the evening the heroes, the supporters of the Kuru honour, felt themselves fatigued from the sport in the water and they resolved to rest in the pleasure house. Having made others exercise in the water; the powerful Bhima felt himself very much tired and occupying a large space he lay down on the ground.
शीतं वातं समासाद्य श्रान्तो मदविमोहितः। विषेण च परीताङ्गो निश्चेष्टः पाण्डुनन्दनः॥
He was fatigued and he was under the influence of the poison. The cool air spread the poison all over his body and the son of Pandu (Bhima) became senseless.
ततो बद्ध्वा लतापाशैर्भीमं दुर्योधनः स्वयम्। मृतकल्पं तदा वीरं स्थलाज्जलमपातयत्॥
Duryodhana then himself bound Bhima with the cords of creepers and he then pushed from the land that dead like hero into the water.
स नि:सङ्गो जलस्यान्तमथ वै पाण्डवोऽविशत्। आक्रामन्नागभवने तदा नागकुमारकान्॥ ततः समेत्य बहुभिस्तदा नागैर्महाविषैः। अदश्यत भृशं भीमो महादंष्ट्रौर्विषोल्बणैः॥
The senseless Pandava (Bhima) sunk into the water and fell on the Naga boys in the abode. of the Nagas. Thereupon, thousands of Nagas, endued with virulently poisonous fangs, began to bit Bhima.
ततोऽस्य दश्यमानस्य तद् विषं कालकूटकम्। हतं सर्पविषेणैव स्थावरं जङ्गमेन तु॥
Having been thus bitten, the virulent vegetable poison in his body was neutralised by the snake poison.
दंष्ट्राश्च दंष्ट्रिणां तेषां मर्मस्वपि निपातिताः। त्वचं नैवास्य बिभिदुः सारत्वात् पृथुवक्षसः॥
The serpents had bitten all over his body except his chest, the skin of which was so tough that their fangs could not penetrate it.
ततः प्रबुद्धः कौन्तेयः सर्वं संछिद्य बन्धनम्। पोथयामास तान् सर्वान् केचिद् भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः॥ हतावशेषा भीमेन सर्वे वासुकिमभ्ययुः। ऊचुश्च सर्पराजानं वासुकिं वासवोपमम्॥
The son of Kunti (Bhima), having regained his consciousness, burst open the cords and he then pressed them (snakes) all under the ground. Some fled in boar and the rest, that escaped death from Bhima's hands, went and spoke to Vasuki, the king of the snakes, equal to Indra.
अयं नरो वै नागेन्द्र ह्यप्सु बद्ध्वा प्रवेशितः। यथा च नो मतिर्वीर विषपीतो भविष्यति॥
"O king of snakes, a certain man, bound with the cords of creepers, sank into water. Perhaps he drank poison, for he was insensible.
निश्चेष्टोऽस्माननुप्राप्तः स च दष्टोऽन्वबुध्यता ससंज्ञश्चापि संवृत्तश्छित्त्वा बन्धनमाशु नः॥
Finding him insensible, we began to bite him, but he soon regained his senses and burst open the cords. He then began to press up to the ground. You should inquire who is this greatly powerful man."
पोथयन्तं महाबाहुं त्वं वै तं ज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततो वासुकिरभ्येत्य नागैरनुगतस्तदा॥ पश्यति स्म महावाहुं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्। आर्यकेण च दृष्टः स पृथाया आर्यकेण च॥ तदा दौहित्रदौहित्रः परिष्वक्तः सुपीडितम्। सुप्रीतश्चाभवत् तस्य वासुकिः स महायशाः॥ अब्रवीत् तं च नागेन्द्रः किमस्य क्रियतां प्रियम्। धनौघो रत्ननिचयो वसु चास्य प्रदीयताम्॥
Thereupon, Vasuki, asked by the inferior Nagas, went there. And saw mighty armed Bhima of fearful deeds. There was a chief of the snakes, named Arka; he the grandfather of the father of Pritha (Kunti); he the grandson of his grandson and embraced him. The greatly illustrious Vasuki was much pleased. The king of the snakes said, “What should we do to please him? Let him be given gems and wealth in profusion.”
एवमुक्तस्तदा नागो वासुकि प्रत्यभाषत। यदि नागेन्द्र तुष्टोऽसि किमस्य धनसंचयैः॥
Having been thus addressed, the Naga (Arka) thus replied to Vasuki, “O king of the snakes, when you are pleased with him, he required no amassing of wealth.
रसं पिबेत् कुमारोऽयं त्वयि प्रीते महाबलः। बलं नागसहस्रस्य यस्मिन् कुण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
was saw When you are pleased, let this greatly powerful prince drink (of the vessel of) Rasa (ambrosia), in which vessel there is the strength of one thousand elephants.
यावत् पिबति बालोऽयं तावदस्मै प्रदीयताम्। एवमस्त्विति तं नागं वासुकिः प्रत्यभाषत॥
Let this prince drink of it as much as he can.” Vasuki replied to the Naga (Arka) “Be it So."
ततो भीमस्तदा नागैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनः शुचिः। प्राङ्मुखश्चोपविष्टश्च रसं पिबति पाण्डवः॥
Thereupon, purifying himself carefully, the Pandava Bhima sat facing the east and began to drink the Rasa. The Nagas performed auspicious rites.
एकोच्छ्वासात् ततः कुण्डं पिबति स्म महाबलः। एवमष्टौ स कुण्डानि ह्यपिबत् पाण्डुनन्दनः॥
At one breath that powerful man (Bhima) quaffed off a whole vessel; thus (one after the other) that son of Pandu quaffed off eight successive jars.
ततस्तु शयने दिव्ये नागदत्ते महाभुजः। अशेत भीमसेनस्तु यथासुखमरिंदमः॥
Thereupon, that chastiser of foes, that mighty armed Bhimasena lay down in happiness on a celestial bed given by the Nagas.