ततः समेत्य बहुभिस्तदा नागैर्महाविषैः। अदश्यत भृशं भीमो महादंष्ट्रैर्विपोल्बणैः
Then many great, venomous serpents gathered and fiercely bit Bhima with their huge, terrible fangs.
ततोऽस्य दश्यमानस्य तद्विषं कालकूटकम्। हतं सर्पविषेणैव स्थावरं जङ्गमेन तु
But as he was being bitten, that deadly Kālakūṭa poison was destroyed by the serpent venom, which is both immobile and mobile.
दंष्ट्राश्च दंष्ट्रिणां तेषां मर्मस्वपि निपातिताः। त्वचं नैवास्य बिभिदुः सारत्वात्पृथुवक्षसः
Though their fangs struck even his vital spots, they could not pierce his skin, for his broad chest was firm.
ततः प्रबुद्धः कौन्तेयः सर्वं संछिद्य बन्धनम्। पोथयामास तान्सर्पान्केचिद्भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः
Then the son of Kunti awoke, broke all his bonds, and began to strike those serpents; some, terrified, fled.
हतावशेषा भीमेन सर्वे वासुकिमभ्ययुः। ऊचुश्च सर्पराजानं वासुकिं वासवोपमम्
Those who survived Bhima's blows all went to Vāsuki, the king of serpents, who was like Indra.
अयं नरो वै नागरेन्द्र ह्यप्सु बद्ध्वा प्रवेशितः। यथा च नो मतिर्वीर विषपीतो भविष्यति
They said to the serpent king Vāsuki, 'O lord of serpents, this man was bound and cast into the water; as we think, he must have drunk poison.'
निश्चेष्टोऽस्माननुप्राप्तः स च दष्टोऽन्वबुध्यत। ससंज्ञश्चापि संवृत्तश्छित्त्वा बन्धनमाशु नः
'He came to us motionless, but after being bitten, he regained consciousness, broke our bonds, and now is aware.'
पोथयन्तं महाबाहुं त्वं वै तं ज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततो वासुकिरभ्येत्य नागैनुगतस्तदा
'You should know this mighty-armed one who is striking us.' Then Vāsuki, accompanied by the serpents, approached him.
पश्यति स्म महाबाहुं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम्। आर्यकेण च दृष्टः स पृथाया आर्यकेण च
He beheld mighty-armed Bhima, whose valor was formidable; and he was seen by the noble elder and by Pritha's noble elder as well.
तदा दौहित्रदौहित्रः परिष्वक्तः सुपीडितम्। सुप्रीतश्चाभवत्तस्य वासुकिः स महायशाः
Then, the grandson and grandfather embraced tightly; Vasuki, renowned for his greatness, became exceedingly pleased with him.
अब्रवीत्तं च नागेन्द्रः किमस्य क्रियतां प्रियम्। धनौघो रत्ननिचयो वसु चास्य प्रदीयताम्
The king of serpents spoke: 'What favor should be done for him? Let a wealth of riches, a heap of jewels, and treasures be given to him.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा नागो वासुकिं प्रत्यभाषत। यदि नागेन्द्र तुष्टोऽसि किमस्य धनसंचयैः
Thus addressed, the serpent replied to Vasuki: 'If you are pleased, O king of serpents, what use are riches for him?'
रसं पिबेत्कुमारोऽयं त्वयि प्रीते महाबलः। बलं नागसहस्रस्य यस्मिन्कुण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम्
Let this powerful boy drink the elixir, since you are pleased; in that vessel is established the strength of a thousand serpents.
यावत्पिबति बालोऽयं तावदस्मै प्रदीयताम्। एवमस्त्विति तं नागं वासुकिः प्रत्यभाषत
As long as this boy drinks, let it be given to him; 'So be it,' Vasuki replied to the serpent.
ततो भीमस्तदा नागैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनः शुचिः। प्राङ्मुखश्चोपविष्टश्च रसं पिबति पाण्डवः
Then Bhima, purified and blessed by the serpents, sat facing east and drank the elixir, the son of Pandu.
एकोच्छ्वासात्ततः कुण्डं पिबति स्म महाबलः। एवमष्टौ स कुण्डानि ह्यपिबत्पाण्डुनन्दनः
With a single breath, the mighty one drank the vessel; thus, the son of Pandu drank eight vessels.
ततस्तु शयने दिव्ये नागदत्ते महाभुजः। अशेत भीमसेनस्तु यथासुखमरिंदमः
Then, upon a divine bed given by the serpents, the great-armed Bhimasena lay down comfortably, subduer of foes.
दुर्योधनस्तु पापात्मा भीममाशीविषहदे। प्रक्षिप्य कृतकृत्यं स्वमात्मानं मन्यते तदा
But Duryodhana, wicked in heart, having thrown Bhima into the deadly serpent's lair, considered himself accomplished.
प्रभातायां रजन्यां च प्रविवेश पुरं ततः। ब्रुवाणो भीमसेनस्तु यातो ह्यग्रत एव नः
When the night had passed and morning came, he entered the city, saying, 'Bhimasena has gone ahead of us.'
युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा ह्यविदन्पापमात्मनि। स्वेनानुमानेन परं साधुं समनुपश्यति
Yudhishthira, righteous in soul, suspected no evil in himself; by his own reasoning, he always saw the good in others.
सोऽभ्युपेत्य तदा पार्थो मातरं भ्रातृवत्सलः। अभिवाद्याब्रवीत्कुन्तीमम्ब भीम इहागतः
Then Partha, affectionate toward his brothers, approached his mother, greeted her, and said, 'Mother Kunti, Bhima has come here.'
क्व गतो भविता मातर्नेह पश्यामि तं शुभे। उद्यानानि वनं चैव विचितानि समन्ततः
Where has he gone, Mother? I do not see him here, O auspicious one; I have searched the gardens and the forest everywhere.
तदर्थं न च तं वीरं दृष्टवन्तो वृकोदरम्। मन्यमानास्ततः सर्वे यातो नः पूर्वमेव सः
For that reason, none of us have seen the hero Vrikodara; thinking thus, all believed he had gone ahead of us.
आगताः स्म महाभागे व्याकुलेनान्तरात्मना। इहागम्य क्व नु गतस्त्वया वा प्रेषितः क्व नु
We have arrived, O blessed one, with troubled hearts; having come here, where has he gone, or was he sent by you, where indeed?
कथयस्व महाबाहुं भीमसेनं यशस्विनि। नहि मे शुध्यते भावस्तं वीरं प्रति शोभने
Tell us, O illustrious one, about mighty-armed Bhimasena; my mind is not at ease concerning that hero, O beautiful one.
यतः प्रसुप्तं मन्येऽहं भीम् नेति हतस्तु सः। इत्युक्ता च ततः कुन्ती धर्मराजेन धीमता
Since I think he was sleeping, Bhima is not here; surely he has been killed.' Thus Kunti was addressed by the wise king of dharma.
हाहेति कृत्वा संभ्रान्ता प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम्। न पुत्र भीमं पश्यामि न मामभ्येत्यसाविति
Crying out in distress, she anxiously said to Yudhishthira: 'My son, I do not see Bhima, he has not come to me.'
शीघ्रमन्वेषणे यत्नं कुरु तस्यानुजैः सह। द्रुतं गत्वा पुरोद्यानं विचिन्वन्तिस्म पाण्डवाः
Quickly make every effort to search for him, together with his younger brothers; the Pandavas hurried to the royal gardens and began searching.
भीमभीमेति ते वाचा पाण्डवाः समुदैरयन्। विचिन्वन्तोऽथ ते सर्वे न स्म पश्यन्ति भ्रातरम्
Calling out 'Bhima! Bhima!' the Pandavas raised their voices; searching everywhere, they still could not see their brother.
आगताः स्वगृहं भूय इदमूचुः पृथां तदा। न दृश्यते महाबाहुरम्ब भीमो वने चितः
Returning again to their home, they said this to Pritha: 'Mother, the mighty-armed Bhima is not seen anywhere in the gardens.'