Bhima Poisoned and Cast into the Water; the Nagas' Elixir

Verse 1 (1.138.1)

ततस्ते मन्त्रयामासुर्दुर्योधनपुरोगमाः । प्राणवान्विक्रमी चापि शौर्ये च महति स्थितः ॥

tataste mantrayāmāsurduryodhanapurogamāḥ | prāṇavānvikramī cāpi śaurye ca mahati sthitaḥ

Then Duryodhana and those who followed his lead took counsel together: "Vrikodara is full of vigour and valour, and he stands firm in great courage.

Note on the text: Removed the speaker line वैशंपायन उवाच (with a stray backtick) that had slipped into the verse text; speaker set to Vaishampayana. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 73, after 1.119.43). Cf. CE apparatus 1.119.26*1308.

Verse 2 (1.138.2)

स्पर्धते चापि सततमस्मानेव वृकोदरः । तं तु सुप्तं पुरोद्याने जले शूले क्षिपामहे ॥

spardhate cāpi satatamasmāneva vṛkodaraḥ | taṃ tu suptaṃ purodyāne jale śūle kṣipāmahe

He is forever vying with us. When he is asleep in the city garden, let us throw him into the water, onto stakes."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana: the plotters' counsel continues from verse 1 (no heading in Wikisource; in the critical edition's parallel, 1.119.26–27, these are Duryodhana's thoughts). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 73, after 1.119.43). Cf. CE apparatus 1.119.26*1308.

Verse 3 (1.138.3)

ततो जलविहारार्थं कारयामास भारत । प्रमाणकोट्यामुद्देशे स्थलं किंचिदुपेत्य ह ॥

tato jalavihārārthaṃ kārayāmāsa bhārata | pramāṇakoṭyāmuddeśe sthalaṃ kiṃcidupetya ha

Then, O Bharata, he had arrangements made for sport in the water, going to a certain stretch of ground at the place called Pramanakoti.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (doubled danda and quote mark). First line = CE 1.119.29a; the second line is a variant of 1.119.30a.

Verse 4 (1.138.4)

भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च पेयं च चोष्यं लेह्यमथापि च । उपपादितं नरैस्तत्र कुशलैः सूदकर्मणि ॥

bhakṣyaṃ bhojyaṃ ca peyaṃ ca coṣyaṃ lehyamathāpi ca | upapāditaṃ naraistatra kuśalaiḥ sūdakarmaṇi

Foods to chew and foods to eat, drinks, things to suck and things to lick were made ready there by men skilled in the cook's craft.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 5 (1.138.5)

न्यवेदयंस्तत्पुरुषा धार्तराष्ट्राय वै तदा । ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र पाण्डवानाह दुर्मतिः ॥

nyavedayaṃstatpuruṣā dhārtarāṣṭrāya vai tadā | tato duryodhanastatra pāṇḍavānāha durmatiḥ

Those men then reported it to the son of Dhritarashtra. Then the evil-minded Duryodhana said to the Pandavas there:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 6 (1.138.6)

गङ्गां चैवानुयास्याम उद्यानवनशोभिताम् । सहिता भ्रातरः सर्वे जलक्रीडामवाप्नुमः ॥

gaṅgāṃ caivānuyāsyāma udyānavanaśobhitām | sahitā bhrātaraḥ sarve jalakrīḍāmavāpnumaḥ

Duryodhana said: "Let us go to the Ganga, which is adorned with gardens and groves. All of us brothers together will enjoy sport in the water."

Note on the text: Speaker set to Duryodhana: the whole verse is his invitation to the Pandavas, announced at the end of verse 5 (no heading in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 7 (1.138.7)

एवमस्त्विति तं चापि प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरः । ते रथैर्नगराकारैर्देशजैश्च गजोत्तमैः ॥

evamastviti taṃ cāpi pratyuvāca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | te rathairnagarākārairdeśajaiśca gajottamaiḥ

Yudhishthira answered him, "So be it." And on chariots as large as cities and on fine elephants bred in their own land,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 8 (1.138.8)

निर्ययुर्नगराच्छूराः कौरवाः पाण्डवैः सह । उद्यानवनमासाद्य विसृज्य च महाजनम् ॥

niryayurnagarācchūrāḥ kauravāḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha | udyānavanamāsādya visṛjya ca mahājanam

the heroic Kauravas set out from the city with the Pandavas. Reaching the garden grove, they sent away the great crowd of people,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 9 (1.138.9)

विशन्ति स्म तदा वीराः सिंहा इव गिरेर्गुहाम् । उद्यानमभिपश्यन्तो भ्रातरः सर्व एव ते ॥

viśanti sma tadā vīrāḥ siṃhā iva girerguhām | udyānamabhipaśyanto bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te

and the heroes went in, like lions entering a mountain cave. All the brothers gazed at the garden,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 10 (1.138.10)

उपस्थानगृहैः शुभ्रैर्वलभीभिश्च शोभितम् । गवाक्षकैस्तथा जालैर्यन्त्रैः सांचारिकैरपि ॥

upasthānagṛhaiḥ śubhrairvalabhībhiśca śobhitam | gavākṣakaistathā jālairyantraiḥ sāṃcārikairapi

which was adorned with gleaming audience halls and turreted pavilions, with round windows and lattices, and with water-machines that could be moved about.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 11 (1.138.11)

संमार्जितं सौधकारैश्चित्रकारैश्च चित्रितम् । दीर्घिकाभिश्च पूर्णाभिस्तथा पुष्करिणीषु च ॥

saṃmārjitaṃ saudhakāraiścitrakāraiśca citritam | dīrghikābhiśca pūrṇābhistathā puṣkariṇīṣu ca

It had been swept clean by plasterers and decorated by painters, and it had long canals full of water, and lotus pools as well.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 12 (1.138.12)

जलं तच्छुशुभे च्छन्नं फुल्लैर्जलरुहैस्तथा । उपच्छन्ना वसुमती तथा पुष्पैर्यथर्तुकैः ॥

jalaṃ tacchuśubhe cchannaṃ phullairjalaruhaistathā | upacchannā vasumatī tathā puṣpairyathartukaiḥ

The water there shone, covered with blooming lotuses, and the ground was covered with the flowers of the season.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 13 (1.138.13)

तत्रोपविष्टास्ते सर्वे पाण्डवाः कौरवाश्च ह । उपच्छन्नान्बहून्कामांस्ते भुञ्जन्ति ततस्ततः ॥

tatropaviṣṭāste sarve pāṇḍavāḥ kauravāśca ha | upacchannānbahūnkāmāṃste bhuñjanti tatastataḥ

All the Pandavas and Kauravas sat down there and enjoyed, one after another, the many delights that had been set before them.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 14 (1.138.14)

अथोद्यानवरे तस्मिंस्तथा क्रीडागताश्च ते । परस्परस्य वक्त्रेषु ददुर्भक्ष्यांस्ततस्ततः ॥

athodyānavare tasmiṃstathā krīḍāgatāśca te | parasparasya vaktreṣu dadurbhakṣyāṃstatastataḥ

Then, in that fine garden, as they played, they put morsels of food into one another's mouths here and there.

Note on the text: Restored the word break क्रीडागताश्चते → क्रीडागताश्च ते (misprint in Wikisource; run-together words, the critical edition's appendix reads krīḍāgatāś ca te). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 15 (1.138.15)

ततो दुर्योधनः पापस्तद्भक्ष्ये कालकूटकम् । विषं प्रक्षेपयामास भीमसेनजिघांसया ॥

tato duryodhanaḥ pāpastadbhakṣye kālakūṭakam | viṣaṃ prakṣepayāmāsa bhīmasenajighāṃsayā

Then the wicked Duryodhana had the deadly kalakuta poison put into that food, wishing to kill Bhimasena.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 16 (1.138.16)

स्वयमुत्थाय चैवाथ हृदयेन क्षुरोपमः । स वाचाऽमृतकल्पश्च भ्रातृवच्च सुहृद्यथा ॥

svayamutthāya caivātha hṛdayena kṣuropamaḥ | sa vācā'mṛtakalpaśca bhrātṛvacca suhṛdyathā

He himself rose up — razor-like at heart but in speech like nectar, behaving like a brother and a friend —

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 17 (1.138.17)

स्वयं प्रक्षिपते भक्ष्यं बहु भीमस्य पापकृत् । प्रभक्षितं च भीमेन तं वै दोषमजानता ॥

svayaṃ prakṣipate bhakṣyaṃ bahu bhīmasya pāpakṛt | prabhakṣitaṃ ca bhīmena taṃ vai doṣamajānatā

and the evildoer himself fed Bhima a great deal of the food; and Bhima, not knowing its harm, ate it all.

Note on the text: Corrected पाकृत् → पापकृत् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara प, the line is a syllable short; the critical edition's appendix reads pāpakṛt). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 18 (1.138.18)

ततो दुर्योधनस्तत्र हृदयेन हसन्निव । कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं मन्यते पुरुषाधमः ॥

tato duryodhanastatra hṛdayena hasanniva | kṛtakṛtyamivātmānaṃ manyate puruṣādhamaḥ

Then Duryodhana, the vilest of men, laughing as it were in his heart, thought that he had achieved his aim.

Note on the text: Corrected कृतकृत्यमीवात्मानं → कृतकृत्यमिवात्मानं (misprint in Wikisource; long ī for short i in इव, as in the critical edition's appendix, kṛtakṛtyam ivātmānaṃ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 19 (1.138.19)

ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे जलक्रीडामकुर्वत । पाण्डवा धार्तराष्ट्राश्च तदा मुदितमानसाः ॥

tataste sahitāḥ sarve jalakrīḍāmakurvata | pāṇḍavā dhārtarāṣṭrāśca tadā muditamānasāḥ

Then the Pandavas and the sons of Dhritarashtra all played together in the water, joyful of heart.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 71, after 1.119.30).

Verse 20 (1.138.20)

विहारावसथेष्वेव वीरा वासमरोचयन् । भीमस्तु बलवान्भुक्त्वा व्यायामाभ्यधिकं जले ॥

vihārāvasatheṣveva vīrā vāsamarocayan | bhīmastu balavānbhuktvā vyāyāmābhyadhikaṃ jale

The heroes chose to spend the night in the pleasure-pavilions. But mighty Bhima, having eaten and having exerted himself in the water more than the others,

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.119.31c; the second line is a variant of 1.119.32a (closer to Appendix I, No. 73, line 43).

Verse 21 (1.138.21)

वाहयित्वा कुमारांस्ताञ्जलक्रीडागतांस्तदा । प्रमाणकोट्यां वासार्थी सुष्वापावाप्य तत्स्थलम् ॥

vāhayitvā kumārāṃstāñjalakrīḍāgatāṃstadā | pramāṇakoṭyāṃ vāsārthī suṣvāpāvāpya tatsthalam

and having carried on his back the princes who were sporting in the water, wanted a place to rest; he went up onto that spot of ground at Pramanakoti and fell asleep.

Note on the text: This verse = CE 1.119.32ce, with variants.

Verse 22 (1.138.22)

शीतं वातं समासाद्य श्रान्तो मदविमोहितः । विषेण च परीताङ्गो निश्चेष्टः पाण्डुनन्दनः ॥

śītaṃ vātaṃ samāsādya śrānto madavimohitaḥ | viṣeṇa ca parītāṅgo niśceṣṭaḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ

Meeting the cool breeze, weary and dazed as if drunk, the son of Pandu lay motionless, his limbs pervaded by the poison.

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.119.33a (वातं for vāsaṃ); the second line is a variant of 1.119.33c.

Verse 23 (1.138.23)

ततो बद्ध्वा लतापाशैर्भीमं दुर्योधनः स्वयम् । शूलान्यप्सु निखायाशु प्रादेशाभ्यन्तराणि च ॥

tato baddhvā latāpāśairbhīmaṃ duryodhanaḥ svayam | śūlānyapsu nikhāyāśu prādeśābhyantarāṇi ca

Then Duryodhana himself bound Bhima with cords of creeper. Quickly planting stakes in the water, a span apart from one another,

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick. First line = CE 1.119.34a (स्वयम् for śanaiḥ); the second line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; cf. Appendix I, No. 73, line 49).

Verse 24 (1.138.24)

लतापाशैर्दृढं बद्धं स्थलाज्जलमपातयत् । सशेषत्वान्न संप्राप्तो जले शूलिनि पाण्डवः ॥

latāpāśairdṛḍhaṃ baddhaṃ sthalājjalamapātayat | saśeṣatvānna saṃprāpto jale śūlini pāṇḍavaḥ

he threw him, tightly bound with the creeper cords, from the bank into the water. But because his allotted life was not yet spent, the Pandava did not come down upon the stakes in the water:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; cf. Appendix I, No. 73, lines 49–50; the closing words स्थलाज्जलमपातयत् also end CE 1.119.34).

Verse 25 (1.138.25)

पपात यत्र तत्रास्य शूलं नासीद्यदृच्छया । स निःसंज्ञो जलस्यान्तमवाग्वै पाण्डवोऽविशत् । आक्रामन्नागभवने तदा नागकुमारकान् ॥

papāta yatra tatrāsya śūlaṃ nāsīdyadṛcchayā | sa niḥsaṃjño jalasyāntamavāgvai pāṇḍavo'viśat | ākrāmannāgabhavane tadā nāgakumārakān

wherever he fell, by chance there was no stake there. Unconscious, the Pandava sank down to the bottom of the water and entered the dwelling of the Nagas, crushing young Nagas beneath him.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark and doubled danda. First line not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; cf. Appendix I, No. 73, line 51); the second and third lines are in its apparatus only (1.119.34*1312).

Verse 26 (1.138.26)

ततः समेत्य बहुभिस्तदा नागैर्महाविषैः । अदश्यत भृशं भीमो महादंष्ट्रैर्विषोल्बणैः ॥

tataḥ sametya bahubhistadā nāgairmahāviṣaiḥ | adaśyata bhṛśaṃ bhīmo mahādaṃṣṭrairviṣolbaṇaiḥ

Then many Nagas of deadly venom gathered there and bit Bhima hard with their great fangs, fierce with poison.

Note on the text: Corrected विपोल्बणैः → विषोल्बणैः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, the critical edition's apparatus reads viṣolbaṇaiḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.119.34*1312).

Verse 27 (1.138.27)

ततोऽस्य दश्यमानस्य तद्विषं कालकूटकम् । हतं सर्पविषेणैव स्थावरं जङ्गमेन तु ॥

tato'sya daśyamānasya tadviṣaṃ kālakūṭakam | hataṃ sarpaviṣeṇaiva sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamena tu

And as he was bitten, the kalakuta poison in him was destroyed by the serpents' venom — the poison of the unmoving world by the poison of the moving.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.119.34*1312).

Verse 28 (1.138.28)

दंष्ट्राश्च दंष्ट्रिणां तेषां मर्मस्वपि निपातिताः । त्वचं नैवास्य बिभिदुः सारत्वात्पृथुवक्षसः ॥

daṃṣṭrāśca daṃṣṭriṇāṃ teṣāṃ marmasvapi nipātitāḥ | tvacaṃ naivāsya bibhiduḥ sāratvātpṛthuvakṣasaḥ

The fangs of those fanged creatures, though driven even into his vital spots, could not pierce his skin, so hard was the broad-chested hero.

Verse 29 (1.138.29)

ततः प्रबुद्धः कौन्तेयः सर्वं संछिद्य बन्धनम् । पोथयामास तान्सर्पान्केचिद्भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥

tataḥ prabuddhaḥ kaunteyaḥ sarvaṃ saṃchidya bandhanam | pothayāmāsa tānsarpānkecidbhītāḥ pradudruvuḥ

Then the son of Kunti woke, broke every bond, and pounded those snakes; some of them fled in fear.

Note on the text: First line = CE 1.119.35a; the second line differs (cf. Appendix I, No. 73, line 59).

Verse 30 (1.138.30)

हतावशेषा भीमेन सर्वे वासुकिमभ्ययुः । ऊचुश्च सर्पराजानं वासुकिं वासवोपमम् ॥

hatāvaśeṣā bhīmena sarve vāsukimabhyayuḥ | ūcuśca sarparājānaṃ vāsukiṃ vāsavopamam

Those whom Bhima had left alive all went to Vasuki, and they said to Vasuki, king of the serpents, who was like Vasava:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 31 (1.138.31)

अयं नरो वै नागेन्द्र ह्यप्सु बद्ध्वा प्रवेशितः । यथा च नो मतिर्वीर विषपीतो भविष्यति ॥

ayaṃ naro vai nāgendra hyapsu baddhvā praveśitaḥ | yathā ca no matirvīra viṣapīto bhaviṣyati

The Nagas said: "Lord of the Nagas, this man was bound and thrown into the water. As we judge, O hero, he must have drunk poison.

Note on the text: Corrected नागरेन्द्र → नागेन्द्र (misprint in Wikisource; intrusive र, the line is a syllable long; the critical edition's appendix reads nāgendra). Speaker set to the Nagas: their report to Vasuki, announced in verse 30 (no heading in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 32 (1.138.32)

निश्चेष्टोऽस्माननुप्राप्तः स च दष्टोऽन्वबुध्यत । ससंज्ञश्चापि संवृत्तश्छित्त्वा बन्धनमाशु नः ॥

niśceṣṭo'smānanuprāptaḥ sa ca daṣṭo'nvabudhyata | sasaṃjñaścāpi saṃvṛttaśchittvā bandhanamāśu naḥ

He came down to us motionless, but when bitten he woke. He has come to his senses, quickly broken his bonds, and

Note on the text: Speaker set to the Nagas (their report continues). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 33 (1.138.33)

पोथयन्तं महाबाहुं त्वं वै तं ज्ञातुमर्हसि । ततो वासुकिरभ्येत्य नागैरनुगतस्तदा ॥

pothayantaṃ mahābāhuṃ tvaṃ vai taṃ jñātumarhasi | tato vāsukirabhyetya nāgairanugatastadā

is pounding us. You should find out who this mighty-armed one is." Then Vasuki came, followed by the Nagas,

Note on the text: Corrected नागैनुगतस्तदा → नागैरनुगतस्तदा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र, the line is a syllable short; the critical edition's appendix reads nāgair anugatas). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 34 (1.138.34)

पश्यति स्म महाबाहुं भीमं भीमपराक्रमम् । आर्यकेण च दृष्टः स पृथाया आर्यकेण च ॥

paśyati sma mahābāhuṃ bhīmaṃ bhīmaparākramam | āryakeṇa ca dṛṣṭaḥ sa pṛthāyā āryakeṇa ca

and saw the mighty-armed Bhima of fearsome prowess. Aryaka too saw him — Aryaka, the grandfather of Pritha.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 35 (1.138.35)

तदा दौहित्रदौहित्रः परिष्वक्तः सुपीडितम् । सुप्रीतश्चाभवत्तस्य वासुकिः स महायशाः ॥

tadā dauhitradauhitraḥ pariṣvaktaḥ supīḍitam | suprītaścābhavattasya vāsukiḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ

Then Aryaka embraced the boy and held him close — the son of his daughter's son's daughter — and the illustrious Vasuki was greatly pleased with him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 36 (1.138.36)

अब्रवीत्तं च नागेन्द्रः किमस्य क्रियतां प्रियम् । धनौघो रत्ननिचयो वसु चास्य प्रदीयताम् ॥

abravīttaṃ ca nāgendraḥ kimasya kriyatāṃ priyam | dhanaugho ratnanicayo vasu cāsya pradīyatām

And the lord of the Nagas said to him: "What kindness shall be done for him? Let him be given floods of wealth, heaps of jewels and riches."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 37 (1.138.37)

एवमुक्तस्तदा नागो वासुकिं प्रत्यभाषत । यदि नागेन्द्र तुष्टोऽसि किमस्य धनसंचयैः ॥

evamuktastadā nāgo vāsukiṃ pratyabhāṣata | yadi nāgendra tuṣṭo'si kimasya dhanasaṃcayaiḥ

So addressed, the Naga replied to Vasuki: "If you are pleased, lord of the Nagas, what use are stores of wealth to him?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 38 (1.138.38)

रसं पिबेत्कुमारोऽयं त्वयि प्रीते महाबलः । बलं नागसहस्रस्य यस्मिन्कुण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

rasaṃ pibetkumāro'yaṃ tvayi prīte mahābalaḥ | balaṃ nāgasahasrasya yasminkuṇḍe pratiṣṭhitam

With your favour, let this mighty boy drink the elixir — the vessel in which the strength of a thousand Nagas is held.

Note on the text: Speaker set to Aryaka: the whole verse continues the reply of the Naga whom Vasuki addresses in verses 36–37, i.e. Aryaka, who has just embraced Bhima (no heading in Wikisource). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 39 (1.138.39)

यावत्पिबति बालोऽयं तावदस्मै प्रदीयताम् । एवमस्त्विति तं नागं वासुकिः प्रत्यभाषत ॥

yāvatpibati bālo'yaṃ tāvadasmai pradīyatām | evamastviti taṃ nāgaṃ vāsukiḥ pratyabhāṣata

Let it be given to him for as long as this boy can drink." Vasuki answered that Naga, "So be it."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 40 (1.138.40)

ततो भीमस्तदा नागैः कृतस्वस्त्ययनः शुचिः । प्राङ्मुखश्चोपविष्टश्च रसं पिबति पाण्डवः ॥

tato bhīmastadā nāgaiḥ kṛtasvastyayanaḥ śuciḥ | prāṅmukhaścopaviṣṭaśca rasaṃ pibati pāṇḍavaḥ

Then Bhima the Pandava, purified, the Nagas having performed the rites for his welfare, sat down facing east and drank the elixir.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 41 (1.138.41)

एकोच्छ्वासात्ततः कुण्डं पिबति स्म महाबलः । एवमष्टौ स कुण्डानि ह्यपिबत्पाण्डुनन्दनः ॥

ekocchvāsāttataḥ kuṇḍaṃ pibati sma mahābalaḥ | evamaṣṭau sa kuṇḍāni hyapibatpāṇḍunandanaḥ

The mighty one drank a whole vessel in a single breath; in this way the son of Pandu drank eight vessels.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).

Verse 42 (1.138.42)

ततस्तु शयने दिव्ये नागदत्ते महाभुजः । अशेत भीमसेनस्तु यथासुखमरिंदमः ॥

tatastu śayane divye nāgadatte mahābhujaḥ | aśeta bhīmasenastu yathāsukhamariṃdamaḥ

Then the mighty-armed Bhimasena, subduer of foes, lay down at his ease on a divine bed given him by the Nagas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 72, after 1.119.38).