Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच कथं नागायुतप्राणो भीमसेनो महाबलः भयमाहारयत्तीव्रं तस्मादजगरान्मुने
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said : O sage, why did the terribly powerful Bhima endued with the strength of ten thousand elephants entertain such a dreadful fear of that snake!
पौलस्त्यं योऽऽह्वयद्युद्धे धनदं बलदर्पितः नलिन्यां कदनं कृत्वा वराणां यक्षरक्षसाम्
AI Translation: He who, in his pride of strength, challenged the son of Pulastya to battle, and who, after slaying the Yakshas and Rakshasas in the lotus-pond,
तं शंससि भयाविष्टमापन्नमरिकर्षणम् एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
AI Translation: You are praising him who is frightened, who is in distress, who is being dragged away by Death. I wish to hear this. I have great curiosity.
वैशंपायन उवाच बह्वाश्चर्ये वने तेषां वसतामुग्रधन्विनाम् प्राप्तानामाश्रमाद्राजन्राजर्षेर्वृषपर्वणः
AI Translation: Vaishmapayana said: While those great archers were dwelling in the forest full of many wonders, they reached the hermitage of the royal sage Vrishaparva.
यदृच्छया धनुष्पाणिर्बद्धखड्गो वृकोदरः ददर्श तद्वनं रम्यं देवगन्धर्वसेवितम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Vrikodara wandering at pleasure armed with (his) bow and sword, beheld that delightful forest frequented by the celestials and the Gandharvas.
स ददर्श शुभान्देशान्गिरेर्हिमवतस्तदा देवर्षिसिद्धचरितानप्सरोगणसेवितान्
M. N. Dutt: He then viewed those auspicious regions on the Himalaya mountains-frequented by the Devarshis and the Siddhas, inhabited by the Apsaras,
चकोरैश्चक्रवाकैश्च पक्षिभिर्जीवजीवकैः कोकिलैर्भृङ्गराजैश्च तत्र तत्र विनादितान्
M. N. Dutt: Ringing here and there with the rejoicing of the Chakora, Upachakra, Jivajivaka, Kokila (cuckoo) and Bhringaraja birds,
नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैर्हिमसंस्पर्शकोमलैः उपेतान्बहुलच्छायैर्मनोनयननन्दनैः
M. N. Dutt: And abounding in numerous shady trees, always bearing fruits and flowers, soft owing to contact with snow and grateful to the mind and eye.
स संपश्यन्गिरिनदीर्वैडूर्यमणिसंनिभैः सलिलैर्हिमसंस्पर्शैर्हंसकारण्डवायुतैः
M. N. Dutt: He viewed also mountain streamlets containing waters (white and cold) like snow, (sparkling and transparent) like the gem Vaidurya (lapis lazuli) and swarmed with ducks and Karandavas.
वनानि देवदारूणां मेघानामिव वागुराः हरिचन्दनमिश्राणि तुङ्गकालीयकान्यपि
M. N. Dutt: He also saw forests of Devadaru (pine) trees looking like a net for the clouds and also Tunga and Kaliyaka forests interspersed with yellow sandal trees.
मृगयां परिधावन्स समेषु मरुधन्वसु विध्यन्मृगाञ्शरैः शुद्धैश्चचार सुमहाबलः
M. N. Dutt: And that exceedingly powerful (Pandava), wandering in the level and dry tracts of the mountain in pursuit of the game, pierced them with unvenomed darts.
स ददर्श महाकायं भुजङ्गं लोमहर्षणम् गिरिदुर्गे समापन्नं कायेनावृत्य कन्दरम्
M. N. Dutt: Saw a terrible-looking serpent of huge shape lie in a mountain fastness, covering the entire cave with its body.
पर्वताभोगवर्ष्माणं भोगैश्चन्द्रार्कमण्डलैः चित्राङ्गमजिनैश्चित्रैर्हरिद्रासदृशच्छविम्
M. N. Dutt: Its gigantic frame was stretched out like a mountain; and it was possessed of enormous strength. Its skin was speckled with many spots and its colour was yellow.
गुहाकारेण वक्त्रेण चतुर्दंष्ट्रेण राजता दीप्ताक्षेणातिताम्रेण लिहन्तं सृक्किणी मुहुः
M. N. Dutt: It had a mouth wide as a cave and furnished with four teeth; its eyes were copper-coloured and glaring and it constantly licked the corners of its mouth.
त्रासनं सर्वभूतानां कालान्तकयमोपमम् निःश्वासक्ष्वेडनादेन भर्त्सयन्तमिव स्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: It was a terror to all creatures and it looked like the (grim) destroyer; and by the hissing noise of its breath it seemed to reprimand (the intruder).
स भीमं सहसाभ्येत्य पृदाकुः क्षुधितो भृशम् जग्राहाजगरो ग्राहो भुजयोरुभयोर्बलात्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that, Bhima got so near to him, that goat-devouring serpent suddenly seized him forcibly into the gripe of its two arms.
तेन संस्पृष्टमात्रस्य भीमसेनस्य वै तदा संज्ञा मुमोह सहसा वरदानेन तस्य ह
M. N. Dutt: And in consequence of the boon which the serpent had received, as soon as Bhimasena's body came in contact with that of the serpent, he lost his senses.
दश नागसहस्राणि धारयन्ति हि यद्बलम् तद्बलं भीमसेनस्य भुजयोरसमं परैः
M. N. Dutt: The strength of Bhimasena's arms, which by far the most exceeded that of others, was equal to the might of ten thousand elephants.
स तेजस्वी तथा तेन भुजगेन वशीकृतः विस्फुरञ्शनकैर्भीमो न शशाक विचेष्टितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus subdued by the snake, even that energetic man trembled slowly and was unable to make any effort (to extricate himself).
नागायुतसमप्राणः सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः गृहीतो व्यजहात्सत्त्वं वरदानेन मोहितः
M. N. Dutt: And seized in the gripe (of the serpent) and charmed by the boon it had received, the leonine-shouldered and mighty armed (Bhima) lost his strength.
स हि प्रयत्नमकरोत्तीव्रमात्मविमोक्षणे न चैनमशकद्वीरः कथंचित्प्रतिबाधितुम्
M. N. Dutt: That hero tried his very best to extricate himself, but in way succeeded in overpowering it. no VYTAUS ".