The Birth of Ghatotkacha

Verse 1 (1.169.1)

गते भगवति व्यासे पाण्डवा विगतज्वराः । ऊषुस्तत्र च षण्मासान्वटवृक्षे यथासुखम् ॥

gate bhagavati vyāse pāṇḍavā vigatajvarāḥ | ūṣustatra ca ṣaṇmāsānvaṭavṛkṣe yathāsukham

After the blessed Vyasa had gone, the Pandavas, free from their anxiety, lived there comfortably for six months by a banyan tree.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 2 (1.169.2)

शाकमूलफलाहारास्तपः कुर्वन्ति पाण्डवाः । अनुज्ञाता महाराज ततः कमलपालिका ॥

śākamūlaphalāhārāstapaḥ kurvanti pāṇḍavāḥ | anujñātā mahārāja tataḥ kamalapālikā

Living on vegetables, roots and fruits, the Pandavas practised austerities. Then, O great king, with their leave, Kamalapalika

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (1.169.3)

रमयन्ती सदा भीमं तत्रतत्र मनोजवा । दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा हि दिव्यस्रगनुलेपना ॥

ramayantī sadā bhīmaṃ tatratatra manojavā | divyābharaṇavastrā hi divyasraganulepanā

kept Bhima constantly delighted here and there, swift as thought, wearing divine ornaments and garments, with divine garlands and fragrant pastes.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 4 (1.169.4)

एवं भ्रातॄन्सप्त मासान्हिडिम्बाऽवासयद्वने । पाण्डवान्भीमसेनार्थे राक्षसी कामरूपिणी ॥

evaṃ bhrātṝnsapta māsānhiḍimbā'vāsayadvane | pāṇḍavānbhīmasenārthe rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī

In this way, for Bhimasena's sake, the shape-changing rakshasi Hidimba kept the brothers, the Pandavas, living in the forest for seven months.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 5 (1.169.5)

सुखं स विहरन्भीमस्तत्कालं पर्यणामयत् । ततोऽलभत सा गर्भं राक्षसी कामरूपिणी ॥

sukhaṃ sa viharanbhīmastatkālaṃ paryaṇāmayat | tato'labhata sā garbhaṃ rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī

Bhima passed that time in happy pleasure. Then the shape-changing rakshasi conceived.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 6 (1.169.6)

अतृप्ता भीमसेनेन सप्तमासोपसंगता । प्रजज्ञे राक्षसी पुत्रं भीमसेनान्महाबलात् ॥

atṛptā bhīmasenena saptamāsopasaṃgatā | prajajñe rākṣasī putraṃ bhīmasenānmahābalāt

Never sated with Bhimasena, having been united with him for seven months, the rakshasi bore a son to the mighty Bhimasena.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark (') and a doubled danda after सप्तमासोपसंगता (wiki marks). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 7 (1.169.7)

विरूपाक्षं महावक्त्रं शङ्कुकर्णं विभीषणम् । भीमरूपं सुताम्राक्षं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रं महारथम् ॥

virūpākṣaṃ mahāvaktraṃ śaṅkukarṇaṃ vibhīṣaṇam | bhīmarūpaṃ sutāmrākṣaṃ tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭraṃ mahāratham

He had fearsome eyes, a huge mouth and ears like spikes; he was terrifying and dreadful in form, with deep copper-red eyes and sharp fangs, a great chariot-warrior.

Verse 8 (1.169.8)

महेष्वासं महावीर्यं महासत्वं महाजवम् । महाकायं महाकालं महाग्रीवं महाभुजम् ॥

maheṣvāsaṃ mahāvīryaṃ mahāsatvaṃ mahājavam | mahākāyaṃ mahākālaṃ mahāgrīvaṃ mahābhujam

He was a great archer, of great valour, great strength and great speed; huge of body, very dark, with a great neck and mighty arms.

Verse 9 (1.169.9)

अमानुषं मानुषजं भीमवेगमरिन्दमम् । पिशाचकानतीत्यान्यान्बभूवाति स मानुषान् ॥

amānuṣaṃ mānuṣajaṃ bhīmavegamarindamam | piśācakānatītyānyānbabhūvāti sa mānuṣān

Though born of a human, he was more than human, terrible in his speed, a tamer of foes; he far surpassed the pishachas and other beings, and humans as well.

Verse 10 (1.169.10)

बालोऽपि विक्रमं प्राप्तो मानुषेषु विशांपते । सर्वास्त्रेषु वरो वीरः प्रकाममभवद्बली ॥

bālo'pi vikramaṃ prāpto mānuṣeṣu viśāṃpate | sarvāstreṣu varo vīraḥ prakāmamabhavadbalī

Though still a child, O lord of the people, he reached the full prowess of a man; the hero became foremost in every kind of weapon and exceedingly strong.

Verse 11 (1.169.11)

सद्यो हि गर्भं राक्षस्यो लभन्ते प्रसवन्ति च । कामरूपधराश्चैव भवन्ति बहुरूपिकाः ॥

sadyo hi garbhaṃ rākṣasyo labhante prasavanti ca | kāmarūpadharāścaiva bhavanti bahurūpikāḥ

For rakshasis conceive and give birth at once; they take whatever form they wish and assume many forms.

Verse 12 (1.169.12)

प्रणम्य विकचः पादावगृह्णात्स पितुस्तदा । मातुश्च परमेष्वासस्तौ च नामास्य चक्रतुः ॥

praṇamya vikacaḥ pādāvagṛhṇātsa pitustadā | mātuśca parameṣvāsastau ca nāmāsya cakratuḥ

The hairless great archer bowed and clasped the feet of his father and of his mother, and the two of them gave him his name.

Verse 13 (1.169.13)

घटोहास्योत्कच इति माता तं प्रत्यभाषत । अभवत्तेन नामास्य घटोत्कच इति स्म ह ॥

ghaṭohāsyotkaca iti mātā taṃ pratyabhāṣata | abhavattena nāmāsya ghaṭotkaca iti sma ha

His mother said of him, "His head is like a pot (ghata) and he is hairless (utkacha)"; and so his name became Ghatotkacha.

Verse 14 (1.169.14)

अनुरक्तश्च तानासीत्पाण्डवान्स घटोत्कचः । तेषां च दयितो नित्यमात्मनित्यो बभूव ह ॥

anuraktaśca tānāsītpāṇḍavānsa ghaṭotkacaḥ | teṣāṃ ca dayito nityamātmanityo babhūva ha

Ghatotkacha was devoted to the Pandavas, and he was ever dear to them and wholly their own.

Verse 15 (1.169.15)

घटोत्कचो महाकायः पाण्डवान्पृथया सह । अभिवाद्य यथान्यायमब्रवीच्च प्रभाष्य तान् ॥

ghaṭotkaco mahākāyaḥ pāṇḍavānpṛthayā saha | abhivādya yathānyāyamabravīcca prabhāṣya tān

Huge-bodied Ghatotkacha saluted the Pandavas and Pritha as was proper and addressed them, saying:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 16 (1.169.16)

किं करोम्यहमार्याणां निःशङ्कं वदतानघाः । तं ब्रुवन्तं भैमसेनिं कुन्ती वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

kiṃ karomyahamāryāṇāṃ niḥśaṅkaṃ vadatānaghāḥ | taṃ bruvantaṃ bhaimaseniṃ kuntī vacanamabravīt

"What shall I do for you, noble ones? Tell me without hesitation, O sinless ones." As Bhimasena's son spoke thus, Kunti said to him:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 17 (1.169.17)

त्वं कुरूणां कुले जातः साक्षाद्भीमसमो ह्यसि । ज्येष्ठः पुत्रोसि पञ्चानां साहाय्यं कुरु पुत्रक ॥

tvaṃ kurūṇāṃ kule jātaḥ sākṣādbhīmasamo hyasi | jyeṣṭhaḥ putrosi pañcānāṃ sāhāyyaṃ kuru putraka

"You are born in the line of the Kurus, and you are Bhima's very equal. You are the eldest son of the five; give us your help, dear son."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 18 (1.169.18)

पृथयाप्येवमुक्तस्तु प्रणम्यैव वचोऽब्रवीत् । यथा हि रावणो लोके इन्द्रजिच्च महाबलः । वर्ष्मवीर्यसमो लोके विशिष्टश्चाभवं नृषु ॥

pṛthayāpyevamuktastu praṇamyaiva vaco'bravīt | yathā hi rāvaṇo loke indrajicca mahābalaḥ | varṣmavīryasamo loke viśiṣṭaścābhavaṃ nṛṣu

Addressed thus by Pritha, he bowed and said: "Like Ravana in the world, and like mighty Indrajit, I have become their equal in stature and strength, and pre-eminent among men."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 19 (1.169.19)

कृत्यकाल उपस्थास्ये पितॄनिति घटोत्कचः । आमन्त्र्य रक्षसां श्रेष्ठः प्रतस्थे चोत्तरां दिशम् ॥

kṛtyakāla upasthāsye pitṝniti ghaṭotkacaḥ | āmantrya rakṣasāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pratasthe cottarāṃ diśam

"When there is work to be done I will come to my fathers," said Ghatotkacha; and taking his leave, the best of rakshasas set out for the northern quarter.

Verse 20 (1.169.20)

स हि सृष्टो भगवता शक्तिहेतोर्महात्मना । कर्णस्याप्रतिवीर्यस्य प्रतियोद्धा महारथः ॥

sa hi sṛṣṭo bhagavatā śaktihetormahātmanā | karṇasyāprativīryasya pratiyoddhā mahārathaḥ

For he had been brought into being by the great-souled Lord on account of the Shakti, as an opponent for Karna of matchless valour, a great chariot-warrior.

Note on the text: Corrected वर्णस्य → कर्णस्य (misprint in Wikisource; the verse names Karna, as in the critical edition). Wikisource reads भगवता ("by the Lord") where the critical edition has maghavatā ("by Indra"); kept as printed.

Verse 21 (1.169.21)

सह वासो मया जीर्णस्त्वया कमलपालिके । पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि राज्यस्थानित्यभाषत तां तदा ॥

saha vāso mayā jīrṇastvayā kamalapālike | punardrakṣyasi rājyasthānityabhāṣata tāṃ tadā

"Our time of living together is over, Kamalapalika. You will see us again when we are established in our kingdom," he said to her then.

Note on the text: Removed the speaker line भीम उवाच and a stray backtick, which had slipped into the verse text; the speaker is set from it. The sense of the first line is close to the critical edition's 1.143.36a. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 22 (1.169.22)

यदा मां संस्मरेः कान्त रिरंसू रहसि प्रभो । तदा तव वशं भूय आगन्तास्म्याशु भारत ॥

yadā māṃ saṃsmareḥ kānta riraṃsū rahasi prabho | tadā tava vaśaṃ bhūya āgantāsmyāśu bhārata

"Whenever you remember me, beloved, wishing to be with me in private, my lord, then I shall swiftly come back to you at your bidding, O Bharata."

Note on the text: Corrected पदा → यदा (misprint in Wikisource; the correlative of तदा, as in the critical edition's apparatus). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 23 (1.169.23)

इत्युक्त्वा सा जगामाशु भावमासज्य पाण्डवे । हिडिम्बा समयं स्मृत्वा स्वां गतिं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

ityuktvā sā jagāmāśu bhāvamāsajya pāṇḍave | hiḍimbā samayaṃ smṛtvā svāṃ gatiṃ pratyapadyata

Having said this, she went swiftly away, her heart set on the Pandava; remembering their agreement, Hidimba went her own way.

Note on the text: Only the second line is in the critical edition (1.143.36c, with कृत्वा for स्मृत्वा); the first line is found in the vulgate recension.