Bhima Slays Kirmira

Verse 1 (3.11.1)

किर्मीरस्य वधं क्षत्तः श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम् । रक्षसा भीमसेनस्य कथमासीत्समागमः ॥

kirmīrasya vadhaṃ kṣattaḥ śrotumicchāmi kathyatām | rakṣasā bhīmasenasya kathamāsītsamāgamaḥ

"Steward, I wish to hear about the slaying of Kirmira; tell me. How did Bhimasena come to meet the rakshasa?"

Verse 2 (3.11.2)

शृणु भीमस्य कर्मेदमतिमानुषकर्मणः । श्रुतपूर्वं मया तेषां कथान्तेषु पुनः पुनः ॥

śṛṇu bhīmasya karmedamatimānuṣakarmaṇaḥ | śrutapūrvaṃ mayā teṣāṃ kathānteṣu punaḥ punaḥ

Hear this deed of Bhima, whose deeds are beyond those of men. I have heard it again and again from them as they told their stories.

Note on the text: Corrected अतिमानषकर्मणः → अतिमानुषकर्मणः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads atimānuṣakarmaṇaḥ).

Verse 3 (3.11.3)

इतः प्रयाता राजेन्द्र पाण्डवा द्यूतनिर्जिताः । जग्मुस्त्रिभिरहोरात्रैः काम्यकं नाम तद्वनम् ॥

itaḥ prayātā rājendra pāṇḍavā dyūtanirjitāḥ | jagmustribhirahorātraiḥ kāmyakaṃ nāma tadvanam

O king of kings, when the Pandavas left here, beaten at dice, they travelled three days and nights and came to the forest called Kamyaka.

Verse 4 (3.11.4)

रात्रौ निशीथे त्वाभीले गतेऽर्धसमये नृप । प्रचारे पुरुषादानां रक्षसां घोरकर्मणाम् ॥

rātrau niśīthe tvābhīle gate'rdhasamaye nṛpa | pracāre puruṣādānāṃ rakṣasāṃ ghorakarmaṇām

It was night, O king, at the dreadful hour of midnight, the time when the man-eating rakshasas of terrible deeds roam abroad.

Verse 5 (3.11.5)

तद्वनं तापसा नित्यमशेषा वनचारिणः । दूरात्परिहरन्ति स्म पुरुषादभयात्किल ॥

tadvanaṃ tāpasā nityamaśeṣā vanacāriṇaḥ | dūrātpariharanti sma puruṣādabhayātkila

The ascetics and all the forest-dwellers always kept far away from that forest, it is said, for fear of the man-eaters.

Verse 6 (3.11.6)

तेषां प्रविशतां तत्र मार्गमावृत्य भारत । दीप्ताक्षं भीषणं रक्षः सोल्मुकं प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

teṣāṃ praviśatāṃ tatra mārgamāvṛtya bhārata | dīptākṣaṃ bhīṣaṇaṃ rakṣaḥ solmukaṃ pratyapadyata

As they were entering it, O Bharata, a dreadful rakshasa with blazing eyes, carrying a firebrand, blocked their path and came upon them.

Note on the text: Corrected मोल्मुकं → सोल्मुकं (misprint in Wikisource; म for स; the critical edition reads solmukaṃ). प्रत्यपद्यत for the critical edition's pratyadṛśyata is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 7 (3.11.7)

बाहू महान्तौ कृत्वा च तथास्यं च भयानकम् । स्थितमावृत्य पन्थानं येन यान्ति कुरूद्वहाः ॥

bāhū mahāntau kṛtvā ca tathāsyaṃ ca bhayānakam | sthitamāvṛtya panthānaṃ yena yānti kurūdvahāḥ

Spreading out his huge arms and opening his fearsome mouth, he stood blocking the road by which the Kuru heroes were travelling.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (स्थितमावृत्यपन्थानं → स्थितमावृत्य पन्थानं).

Verse 8 (3.11.8)

दष्टोष्ठदंष्ट्रं ताम्राक्षं प्रदीप्तोर्ध्वशिरोरुहम् । सार्करश्मितडिच्चक्रं सबलाकमिवाम्बुदम् ॥

daṣṭoṣṭhadaṃṣṭraṃ tāmrākṣaṃ pradīptordhvaśiroruham | sārkaraśmitaḍiccakraṃ sabalākamivāmbudam

His fangs were pressed on his lip, his eyes were copper-red and his hair stood up like flame; he looked like a cloud with cranes, ringed with lightning and the rays of the sun.

Verse 9 (3.11.9)

सृजन्तं राक्षसीं मायां महानादनिनादितम् । मुञ्चन्तं विपुलान्नादान्सतोयमिव तोयदम् ॥

sṛjantaṃ rākṣasīṃ māyāṃ mahānādanināditam | muñcantaṃ vipulānnādānsatoyamiva toyadam

Conjuring up rakshasa illusions and filling the air with great roars, he poured out mighty sounds like a rain-laden cloud.

Verse 10 (3.11.10)

तस्य नादेन संत्रस्ताः पक्षिणः सर्वतोदिशम् । विमुक्तनादाः संपेतुः स्थलजा जलजैः सह ॥

tasya nādena saṃtrastāḥ pakṣiṇaḥ sarvatodiśam | vimuktanādāḥ saṃpetuḥ sthalajā jalajaiḥ saha

Terrified by his roar, the birds on every side fell silent and flew off, those of the land along with those of the water.

Verse 11 (3.11.11)

संप्रद्रुतमृगद्वीपिमहिषर्क्षसमाकुलम् । तद्वनं तस्य नादेन संप्रस्थितमिवाभवत् ॥

saṃpradrutamṛgadvīpimahiṣarkṣasamākulam | tadvanaṃ tasya nādena saṃprasthitamivābhavat

Thronged with fleeing deer, leopards, buffaloes and bears, the forest seemed to move away at his roar.

Verse 12 (3.11.12)

तस्योरुवाताभिहतास्ताम्रपल्लवबाहवः । विदूरजाताश्च लताः समाश्लिष्यन्ति पादपान् ॥

tasyoruvātābhihatāstāmrapallavabāhavaḥ | vidūrajātāśca latāḥ samāśliṣyanti pādapān

Struck by the wind from his thighs, creepers growing far away clung to the trees with their copper-red shoots for arms.

Verse 13 (3.11.13)

तस्मिन्क्षणेऽथ प्रववौ मारुतो भृशदारुणः । रजसा संवृतं तेन नष्टर्क्षमभवन्नभः ॥

tasminkṣaṇe'tha pravavau māruto bhṛśadāruṇaḥ | rajasā saṃvṛtaṃ tena naṣṭarkṣamabhavannabhaḥ

At that moment a fierce wind blew, and the sky, covered by the dust it raised, lost its stars.

Verse 14 (3.11.14)

पञ्चानां पाण्डुपुत्राणामविज्ञातो महारिपुः । पञ्चानामिन्द्रियाणां तु शोकावेश इवातुलः ॥

pañcānāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāmavijñāto mahāripuḥ | pañcānāmindriyāṇāṃ tu śokāveśa ivātulaḥ

This great enemy came upon the five sons of Pandu unforeseen, like an overwhelming surge of grief upon the five senses.

Verse 15 (3.11.15)

स दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवान्दूरात्कृष्णाजिनसमावृतान् । आवृणोत्तद्वनद्वारं मैनाक इव पर्वतः ॥

sa dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāndūrātkṛṣṇājinasamāvṛtān | āvṛṇottadvanadvāraṃ maināka iva parvataḥ

Seeing the Pandavas from afar, clad in black deerskins, he blocked the entrance to the forest like Mount Mainaka.

Verse 16 (3.11.16)

तं समासाद्य वित्रस्ता कृष्णा कमललोचना । अदृष्टपूर्वं संत्रासान्न्यमीलयत लोचने ॥

taṃ samāsādya vitrastā kṛṣṇā kamalalocanā | adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ saṃtrāsānnyamīlayata locane

Coming face to face with him, lotus-eyed Krishna was terrified; she had never seen such a thing, and in her fright she shut her eyes.

Verse 17 (3.11.17)

दुःशासनकरोत्सृष्टविप्रकीर्णशिरोरुहा । पञ्चपर्वतमध्यस्था नदीवाकुलतां गता ॥

duḥśāsanakarotsṛṣṭaviprakīrṇaśiroruhā | pañcaparvatamadhyasthā nadīvākulatāṃ gatā

Her hair, loosed by Duhshasana's hand, lay scattered; standing among the five, she was like a river in turmoil between five mountains.

Verse 18 (3.11.18)

विमुह्यमानां तां तत्र जगृहुः पञ्च पाण्डवाः । इन्द्रियाणि प्रसक्तानि विषयेषु यथारतिम् ॥

vimuhyamānāṃ tāṃ tatra jagṛhuḥ pañca pāṇḍavāḥ | indriyāṇi prasaktāni viṣayeṣu yathāratim

As she swooned there, the five Pandavas held her up, as the five senses, bound to their objects, hold fast to what delights them.

Verse 19 (3.11.19)

अथ तां राक्षसीं मायामुत्थितां घोरदर्शनाम् । रक्षोघ्नैर्विविधैर्मन्त्रैर्धौम्यः सम्यक्प्रयोजितैः । पश्यतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां नाशयामास वीर्यवान् ॥

atha tāṃ rākṣasīṃ māyāmutthitāṃ ghoradarśanām | rakṣoghnairvividhairmantrairdhaumyaḥ samyakprayojitaiḥ | paśyatāṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ nāśayāmāsa vīryavān

Then mighty Dhaumya, with various rakshasa-slaying mantras rightly applied, destroyed that dreadful rakshasa illusion that had arisen, while the sons of Pandu looked on.

Note on the text: Re-divided at the half-line: Wikisource's table printed the three-line verse 19 as two lines and carried its third line into verse 20, so verses 20–23 each straddled two verses and verse 24 had three lines. Regrouped as in the poem text on the same Wikisource page and the critical edition; no words added or dropped. This verse takes back its third line (पश्यतां पाण्डुपुत्राणां …) from Wikisource 20.

Verse 20 (3.11.20)

स नष्टमायोऽतिबलः क्रोधविस्फारितेक्षणः । काममूर्तिधरः क्रूरः कालकल्पो व्यदृश्यत ॥

sa naṣṭamāyo'tibalaḥ krodhavisphāritekṣaṇaḥ | kāmamūrtidharaḥ krūraḥ kālakalpo vyadṛśyata

His illusion destroyed, the mighty rakshasa appeared, his eyes wide with rage, taking any form he pleased, cruel, like Death itself.

Note on the text: Re-divided at the half-line: Wikisource's table printed the three-line verse 19 as two lines and carried its third line into verse 20, so verses 20–23 each straddled two verses and verse 24 had three lines. Regrouped as in the poem text on the same Wikisource page and the critical edition; no words added or dropped. क्रूरः for the critical edition's kṣudraḥ is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 21 (3.11.21)

तमुवाच ततो राजा दीर्घप्रज्ञो युधिष्ठिरः । को भवान्कस्य वा किं ते क्रियतां कार्यमुच्यताम् ॥

tamuvāca tato rājā dīrghaprajño yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | ko bhavānkasya vā kiṃ te kriyatāṃ kāryamucyatām

Then King Yudhishthira, far-seeing in wisdom, said to him: "Who are you, and whose son? What do you want? Tell us what we should do for you."

Note on the text: Re-divided at the half-line: Wikisource's table printed the three-line verse 19 as two lines and carried its third line into verse 20, so verses 20–23 each straddled two verses and verse 24 had three lines. Regrouped as in the poem text on the same Wikisource page and the critical edition; no words added or dropped.

Verse 22 (3.11.22)

प्रत्युवाचाथ तद्रक्षो धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । अहं बकस्य वै भ्राता किर्मीर इति विश्रुतः ॥

pratyuvācātha tadrakṣo dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | ahaṃ bakasya vai bhrātā kirmīra iti viśrutaḥ

The rakshasa answered Yudhishthira, the king of dharma: "I am the brother of Baka, known as Kirmira.

Note on the text: Re-divided at the half-line: Wikisource's table printed the three-line verse 19 as two lines and carried its third line into verse 20, so verses 20–23 each straddled two verses and verse 24 had three lines. Regrouped as in the poem text on the same Wikisource page and the critical edition; no words added or dropped. Also corrected वकस्य → बकस्य (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब in the name Baka; the critical edition reads bakasya).

Verse 23 (3.11.23)

वनेऽस्मिन्काम्यके शून्ये निवसामि गतज्वरः । युधि निर्जित्य पुरुषानाहारं नित्यमाचरन् ॥

vane'sminkāmyake śūnye nivasāmi gatajvaraḥ | yudhi nirjitya puruṣānāhāraṃ nityamācaran

I live untroubled in this empty Kamyaka forest, always getting my food by defeating men in combat.

Note on the text: Re-divided at the half-line: Wikisource's table printed the three-line verse 19 as two lines and carried its third line into verse 20, so verses 20–23 each straddled two verses and verse 24 had three lines. Regrouped as in the poem text on the same Wikisource page and the critical edition; no words added or dropped.

Verse 24 (3.11.24)

के यूयमभिसंप्राप्ता भक्ष्यभूता ममान्तिकम् । युधि निर्जित्य वः सर्वान्भक्षयिष्ये गतज्वरः ॥

ke yūyamabhisaṃprāptā bhakṣyabhūtā mamāntikam | yudhi nirjitya vaḥ sarvānbhakṣayiṣye gatajvaraḥ

Who are you, who have come so near me to be my food? I shall defeat you all in battle and eat you without a care."

Note on the text: Re-divided at the half-line: Wikisource's table printed the three-line verse 19 as two lines and carried its third line into verse 20, so verses 20–23 each straddled two verses and verse 24 had three lines. Regrouped as in the poem text on the same Wikisource page and the critical edition; no words added or dropped. Also restored a missing word space (निर्जित्यवः → निर्जित्य वः). अभिसंप्राप्ता for iha saṃprāptā is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 25 (3.11.25)

युधिष्ठिरस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य दुरात्मनः । आचचक्षे ततः सर्वं गोत्रनामादि भारत ॥

yudhiṣṭhirastu tacchrutvā vacastasya durātmanaḥ | ācacakṣe tataḥ sarvaṃ gotranāmādi bhārata

Hearing these words of the evil one, O Bharata, Yudhishthira told him everything, his lineage, his name and the rest.

Verse 26 (3.11.26)

पाण्डवो धर्मराजोऽहं यदि ते श्रोत्रमागतः । सहितो भ्रातृभिः सर्वैर्भीमसेनार्जुनादिभिः ॥

pāṇḍavo dharmarājo'haṃ yadi te śrotramāgataḥ | sahito bhrātṛbhiḥ sarvairbhīmasenārjunādibhiḥ

"I am the Pandava, the king of dharma, if you have heard of me, and with me are all my brothers, Bhimasena, Arjuna and the others.

Verse 27 (3.11.27)

हृतराज्यो वने वासं वस्तुं कृतमतिस्ततः । वनमभ्यागतो घोरमिदं तव परिग्रहम् ॥

hṛtarājyo vane vāsaṃ vastuṃ kṛtamatistataḥ | vanamabhyāgato ghoramidaṃ tava parigraham

Robbed of my kingdom, I resolved to live in the forest, and so I have come to this dreadful forest, which is your domain."

Verse 28 (3.11.28)

विस्मयं परमं गत्वा राक्षसो घोरदर्शनः । किर्मीरस्त्वब्रवीदेनं दिष्ट्या देवैरिदं मम । उपपादितमद्येह चिरकालान्मनोरथम् ॥

vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatvā rākṣaso ghoradarśanaḥ | kirmīrastvabravīdenaṃ diṣṭyā devairidaṃ mama | upapāditamadyeha cirakālānmanoratham

Struck with great astonishment, the dreadful-looking rakshasa Kirmira said to him: "By good fortune the gods have today fulfilled here my long-cherished wish.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` and ') and a doubled danda around the first line. That line (विस्मयं परमं गत्वा …) is not in the critical edition's text: it is the star passage 41* printed in the apparatus after 3.12.28d (vulgate recension). The other two lines match 3.12.28; मनोरथम् for manogatam is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 29 (3.11.29)

भीमसेनवधार्थं हि नित्यमभ्युद्यतायुधः । चरामि पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां नैनं चासादयाम्यहम् ॥

bhīmasenavadhārthaṃ hi nityamabhyudyatāyudhaḥ | carāmi pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ nainaṃ cāsādayāmyaham

For I roam the whole earth with weapons always raised to kill Bhimasena, and I have never found him.

Verse 30 (3.11.30)

सोऽयमासादितो दिष्ट्या भ्रातृहा काङ्क्षितश्चिरम् । अनेन हि मम भ्राता बको विनिहतः प्रियः ॥

so'yamāsādito diṣṭyā bhrātṛhā kāṅkṣitaściram | anena hi mama bhrātā bako vinihataḥ priyaḥ

And here he is, found by good fortune, my brother's killer, whom I have sought so long; for he killed my dear brother Baka

Note on the text: Corrected सोयम् → सोऽयम् (missing avagraha in Wikisource; the critical edition reads so 'yam).

Verse 31 (3.11.31)

वैत्रकीयवने राजन्ब्राह्मणच्छद्मरूपिणा । विद्याबलमुपाश्रित्य न ह्यस्त्यस्यौरसं बलम् ॥

vaitrakīyavane rājanbrāhmaṇacchadmarūpiṇā | vidyābalamupāśritya na hyastyasyaurasaṃ balam

in the Vaitrakiya forest, O king, disguised as a brahmin and relying on the power of spells; he has no strength of his own.

Note on the text: Corrected ह्मस्त्य → ह्यस्त्य (misprint in Wikisource; ह्म for ह्य; the critical edition reads hy asty). वैत्रकीयवने for the critical edition's vetrakīyagṛhe is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 32 (3.11.32)

हिडिम्बश्च सखा मह्यं दयितो वनगोचरः । हतो दुरात्मनाऽनेन स्वसा चास्य हृता पुरा ॥

hiḍimbaśca sakhā mahyaṃ dayito vanagocaraḥ | hato durātmanā'nena svasā cāsya hṛtā purā

And Hidimba, my dear friend who roamed the forest, was killed long ago by this evil one, and his sister was carried off.

Note on the text: Corrected मह्मं → मह्यं (misprint in Wikisource; ह्म for ह्य; the critical edition reads mahyaṃ).

Verse 33 (3.11.33)

सोऽयमभ्यागतो मूढो ममेदं गहनं वनम् । प्रचारसमयेऽस्माकमर्द्धरात्रे स्थिते समे ॥

so'yamabhyāgato mūḍho mamedaṃ gahanaṃ vanam | pracārasamaye'smākamarddharātre sthite same

Now the fool has come into this deep forest of mine at midnight, just at the hour when we roam abroad.

Note on the text: Corrected सोयम् → सोऽयम् (missing avagraha in Wikisource; the critical edition reads so 'yam). अर्द्धरात्रे स्थिते समे for the critical edition's ardharātre samāsthite is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 34 (3.11.34)

अद्यास्य यातयिष्यामि तद्वैरं चिरसंभृतम् । तर्पयिष्यामि च बकं रुधिरेणास्य भूरिणा ॥

adyāsya yātayiṣyāmi tadvairaṃ cirasaṃbhṛtam | tarpayiṣyāmi ca bakaṃ rudhireṇāsya bhūriṇā

Today I shall pay him back for that long-nursed feud, and I shall sate Baka with his abundant blood.

Verse 35 (3.11.35)

अद्याहमनृणो भूत्वा भ्रातुः सख्युस्तथैव च । शान्तिं लब्धास्मि परमां हत्वा राक्षसकण्टकम् ॥

adyāhamanṛṇo bhūtvā bhrātuḥ sakhyustathaiva ca | śāntiṃ labdhāsmi paramāṃ hatvā rākṣasakaṇṭakam

Today, freed of my debt to my brother and to my friend, I shall find the highest peace by killing this thorn in the side of the rakshasas.

Verse 36 (3.11.36)

यदि तेन पुरा मुक्तो भीमसेनो बकेन वै । अद्यैनं भक्षयिष्यामि पश्यतस्ते युधिष्ठिर ॥

yadi tena purā mukto bhīmaseno bakena vai | adyainaṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmi paśyataste yudhiṣṭhira

If Bhimasena once escaped from Baka, today I shall devour him while you look on, Yudhishthira.

Verse 37 (3.11.37)

एनं हि विपुलप्राणमद्य हत्वा वृकोदरम् । संभक्ष्य जरयिष्यामि यथाऽगस्त्यो महासुरम् ॥

enaṃ hi vipulaprāṇamadya hatvā vṛkodaram | saṃbhakṣya jarayiṣyāmi yathā'gastyo mahāsuram

For today I shall kill this mighty Vrikodara, eat him and digest him, as Agastya did the great asura Vatapi."

Verse 38 (3.11.38)

एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा सत्यसन्धो युधिष्ठिरः । नैतदस्तीति सक्रोधो भर्त्सयामास राक्षसम् ॥

evamuktastu dharmātmā satyasandho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | naitadastīti sakrodho bhartsayāmāsa rākṣasam

Thus addressed, righteous Yudhishthira, true to his word, angrily rebuked the rakshasa, saying, "That shall not be."

Verse 39 (3.11.39)

ततो भीमो महाबाहुरारुज्य तरसा द्रुमम् । दशव्याममथोद्विद्धं निष्पत्रमकरोत्तदा ॥

tato bhīmo mahābāhurārujya tarasā drumam | daśavyāmamathodviddhaṃ niṣpatramakarottadā

Then mighty-armed Bhima swiftly broke off a tree ten fathoms tall, tore it out and stripped it of its leaves.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (आरुज्यतरसा → आरुज्य तरसा).

Verse 40 (3.11.40)

चकार सज्यं गाण्डीवं वज्रनिष्पेषगौरवम् । निमेषान्तरमात्रेण तथैव विजयोऽर्जुनः ॥

cakāra sajyaṃ gāṇḍīvaṃ vajraniṣpeṣagauravam | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa tathaiva vijayo'rjunaḥ

In the twinkling of an eye Arjuna, the victorious, likewise strung the Gandiva, whose weight was like the crushing blow of the thunderbolt.

Verse 41 (3.11.41)

निवार्य भीमो जिष्णुं तं तद्रक्षो मेघनिःस्वनम् । अभिद्रुत्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं तिष्ठतिष्ठेति भारत ॥

nivārya bhīmo jiṣṇuṃ taṃ tadrakṣo meghaniḥsvanam | abhidrutyābravīdvākyaṃ tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti bhārata

Holding back Jishnu, Bhima rushed at the rakshasa, who roared like a cloud, and said to him, O Bharata, "Stand! Stand!"

Verse 42 (3.11.42)

इत्युक्त्वैनमतिक्रुद्धः कक्ष्यामुत्पीड्य पाण्डवः । निष्पिष्य पाणिना पाणिं संदष्टौष्ठपुटो बली । तमभ्यधावद्वेगेन भीमो वृक्षायुधस्तदा ॥

ityuktvainamatikruddhaḥ kakṣyāmutpīḍya pāṇḍavaḥ | niṣpiṣya pāṇinā pāṇiṃ saṃdaṣṭauṣṭhapuṭo balī | tamabhyadhāvadvegena bhīmo vṛkṣāyudhastadā

Saying this, the mighty Pandava, in a towering rage, tightened his girdle, ground one hand against the other and bit his lips; then Bhima rushed at him swiftly with the tree for his weapon.

Verse 43 (3.11.43)

यमदण्डप्रतीकाशं ततस्तं तस्य मूर्धनि । पातयामास वेगेन कुलिशं मघवानिव ॥

yamadaṇḍapratīkāśaṃ tatastaṃ tasya mūrdhani | pātayāmāsa vegena kuliśaṃ maghavāniva

Then he brought the tree, like the staff of Yama, crashing down on the rakshasa's head, as Maghavan hurls his thunderbolt.

Verse 44 (3.11.44)

असंभ्रान्तं तु तद्रक्षः समरे प्रत्यदृश्यत । चिक्षेप चोल्मुकं दीप्तमशनिं ज्वलितामिव ॥

asaṃbhrāntaṃ tu tadrakṣaḥ samare pratyadṛśyata | cikṣepa colmukaṃ dīptamaśaniṃ jvalitāmiva

But the rakshasa stood unshaken in the fight, and he hurled his blazing firebrand like a flaming thunderbolt.

Verse 45 (3.11.45)

तदुदस्तमलातं तु भीमः प्रहरतां वरः । पदा सव्येन चिक्षेप तद्रक्षः पुनराव्रजत् ॥

tadudastamalātaṃ tu bhīmaḥ praharatāṃ varaḥ | padā savyena cikṣepa tadrakṣaḥ punarāvrajat

Bhima, best of fighters, kicked the hurled firebrand away with his left foot, and it flew back at the rakshasa.

Verse 46 (3.11.46)

किर्मीरश्चापि सहसा वृक्षमुत्पाट्य पाण्डवम् । दण्डपाणिरिव क्रुद्धः समरे प्रत्यधावत ॥

kirmīraścāpi sahasā vṛkṣamutpāṭya pāṇḍavam | daṇḍapāṇiriva kruddhaḥ samare pratyadhāvata

Kirmira too swiftly uprooted a tree and, furious like Yama with his staff, rushed at the Pandava in the fight.

Verse 47 (3.11.47)

तद्वृक्षयुद्धमभवन्महीरुहविनाशनम् । वालिसुग्रीवयोर्भ्रात्रोर्यथा स्त्रीकाङ्क्षिणोः पुरा ॥

tadvṛkṣayuddhamabhavanmahīruhavināśanam | vālisugrīvayorbhrātroryathā strīkāṅkṣiṇoḥ purā

Then came a battle of trees that laid the forest's trees waste, like the fight long ago between the brothers Vali and Sugriva, each of whom desired a woman.

Verse 48 (3.11.48)

शीर्षयोः पतिता वृक्षा बिभिदुर्नैकधा तयोः । यथैवोत्पलपत्राणि मत्तयोर्द्विपयोस्तथा ॥

śīrṣayoḥ patitā vṛkṣā bibhidurnaikadhā tayoḥ | yathaivotpalapatrāṇi mattayordvipayostathā

The trees that fell on their heads broke into many pieces, like lotus leaves on the heads of two elephants in rut.

Note on the text: Corrected विभिदुः → बिभिदुः (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब in the reduplicated perfect; the critical edition reads bibhiduḥ). उत्पलपत्राणि for the critical edition's utpalapadmāni is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 49 (3.11.49)

मूर्ध्नि जर्जरभूतास्तु बहवस्तत्र पादपाः । चीराणीव व्युदस्तानि रेजुस्तत्र महावने ॥

mūrdhni jarjarabhūtāstu bahavastatra pādapāḥ | cīrāṇīva vyudastāni rejustatra mahāvane

Many trees there, shattered on their heads, lay strewn about like strips of bark, and gleamed in that great forest.

Note on the text: Corrected मूर्ध्निजर्झरभूताः → मूर्ध्नि जर्जरभूताः (misprint in Wikisource; जर्झर is not a word, read जर्जर "shattered"; word space restored). The critical edition reads muñjavaj jarjarībhūtā here; the Wikisource line is a recension variant and is otherwise kept.

Verse 50 (3.11.50)

तद्वृक्षयुद्धमभवन्मुहूर्तं भरतर्षभ । राक्षसानां च मुख्यस्य नराणामुत्तमस्य च ॥

tadvṛkṣayuddhamabhavanmuhūrtaṃ bharatarṣabha | rākṣasānāṃ ca mukhyasya narāṇāmuttamasya ca

That battle of trees went on for a while, O bull of the Bharatas, between the chief of the rakshasas and the best of men.

Note on the text: Corrected महूर्तं → मुहूर्तं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads sumuhūrtaṃ). भरतर्षभ for the critical edition's viśāṃ pate is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 51 (3.11.51)

ततः शिलां समुत्क्षिप्य भीमस्य युधि तिष्ठतः । प्राहिणोद्राक्षसः क्रुद्धो भीमसेनश्चचाल ह ॥

tataḥ śilāṃ samutkṣipya bhīmasya yudhi tiṣṭhataḥ | prāhiṇodrākṣasaḥ kruddho bhīmasenaścacāla ha

Then the furious rakshasa lifted a rock and hurled it at Bhima as he stood fighting, and Bhimasena staggered.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राहिणोद्रासः → प्राहिणोद्राक्षसः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the pada is one syllable short; the critical edition reads prāhiṇod rākṣasaḥ).

Verse 52 (3.11.52)

तं शिलाताडनजडं पर्यधावत राक्षसः । बाहुविक्षिप्तकिरणः स्वर्भानुरिव भास्करम् ॥

taṃ śilātāḍanajaḍaṃ paryadhāvata rākṣasaḥ | bāhuvikṣiptakiraṇaḥ svarbhānuriva bhāskaram

As he stood stunned by the blow of the rock, the rakshasa rushed at him with arms outspread, like Svarbhanu at the sun, scattering its rays.

Verse 53 (3.11.53)

तावन्योन्यं समाश्लिष्य प्रकर्षन्तौ परस्परम् । उभावपि चकाशेते प्रवृद्धौ वृषभाविव ॥

tāvanyonyaṃ samāśliṣya prakarṣantau parasparam | ubhāvapi cakāśete pravṛddhau vṛṣabhāviva

Locked together and dragging each other about, the two shone like a pair of mighty bulls.

Note on the text: Corrected समाश्लिश्य → समाश्लिष्य (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads samāśliṣya). प्रवृद्धौ for prayuddhau is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 54 (3.11.54)

तयोरासीत्सुतुमुलः संप्रहारः सुदारुणः । नखदंष्ट्रायुधवतोर्व्याघ्रयोरिव दृप्तयोः ॥

tayorāsītsutumulaḥ saṃprahāraḥ sudāruṇaḥ | nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhavatorvyāghrayoriva dṛptayoḥ

Fierce and tumultuous was the clash between them, like that of two proud tigers armed with claws and fangs.

Verse 55 (3.11.55)

दुर्योधननिकाराच्च बाहुवीर्याच्च दर्पितः । कृष्णानयनदृष्टश्च व्यवर्धत वृकोदरः ॥

duryodhananikārācca bāhuvīryācca darpitaḥ | kṛṣṇānayanadṛṣṭaśca vyavardhata vṛkodaraḥ

Stung by the humiliation Duryodhana had dealt, proud of the strength of his arms, and with Krishna's eyes upon him, Vrikodara grew in might.

Verse 56 (3.11.56)

अभिहत्याथ बाहुभ्यां प्रत्यगृह्णादमर्षितः । मातङ्गमिव मातङ्गः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखम् ॥

abhihatyātha bāhubhyāṃ pratyagṛhṇādamarṣitaḥ | mātaṅgamiva mātaṅgaḥ prabhinnakaraṭāmukham

Striking him with both arms, the enraged Bhima seized him, as an elephant seizes another elephant whose temples run with the ichor of rut.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभिनन → प्रभिन्न (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition and the Wikisource commentary read prabhinna-). अभिहत्य and the accusative मातङ्गमिव मातङ्गः … -मुखम् are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 57 (3.11.57)

स चाप्येनं ततो रक्षः प्रतिजग्राह वीर्यवान् । तमाक्षिपद्भीमसेनो बलेन बलिनां वरः ॥

sa cāpyenaṃ tato rakṣaḥ pratijagrāha vīryavān | tamākṣipadbhīmaseno balena balināṃ varaḥ

The mighty rakshasa in turn seized him, but Bhimasena, strongest of the strong, flung him off with force.

Note on the text: Corrected वीर्यबान् → वीर्यवान् (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व; the critical edition reads vīryavān).

Verse 58 (3.11.58)

तयोर्भुजविनिष्पेषादुभयोर्बलिनोस्तदा । शब्दः समभवद्घोरो वेणुस्फोटसमो युधि ॥

tayorbhujaviniṣpeṣādubhayorbalinostadā | śabdaḥ samabhavadghoro veṇusphoṭasamo yudhi

From the crushing grip of those two strong ones' arms came a terrible sound in the fight, like bamboo splitting.

Verse 59 (3.11.59)

अथैनमाक्षिप्य बलाद्गृह्य मध्ये वृकोदरः । धूनयामास वेगेन वायुश्चण्ड इव द्रुमम् ॥

athainamākṣipya balādgṛhya madhye vṛkodaraḥ | dhūnayāmāsa vegena vāyuścaṇḍa iva drumam

Then Vrikodara flung him about, gripped him forcibly by the waist and shook him hard, as a raging wind shakes a tree.

Note on the text: Corrected गृद्य → गृह्य (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads gṛhya).

Verse 60 (3.11.60)

स भीमेन परामृष्टो दुर्बलो बलिनां रणे । व्यस्पन्दत यथाप्राणं विचकर्ष च पाण्डवम् ॥

sa bhīmena parāmṛṣṭo durbalo balināṃ raṇe | vyaspandata yathāprāṇaṃ vicakarṣa ca pāṇḍavam

Seized by Bhima, the rakshasa, the weaker of the two strong fighters, struggled with all his strength and dragged at the Pandava.

Verse 61 (3.11.61)

तत एनं परिश्रान्तमुपलक्ष्य वृकोदरः । योक्त्रयामास बाहुभ्यां पशुं रशनया यथा ॥

tata enaṃ pariśrāntamupalakṣya vṛkodaraḥ | yoktrayāmāsa bāhubhyāṃ paśuṃ raśanayā yathā

Then, seeing that he was exhausted, Vrikodara bound him fast with his arms, as one ties a beast with a rope.

Note on the text: Corrected योक्रयामास → योक्त्रयामास (misprint in Wikisource, repeated in its commentary; the denominative is from योक्त्र "tether"; the critical edition reads yoktrayām āsa). उपलक्ष्य for upalabhya is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 62 (3.11.62)

विनदन्तं महानादं भिन्नभेरीस्वनं बली । भ्रामयामास सुचिरं विस्फुरन्तमचेतसम् ॥

vinadantaṃ mahānādaṃ bhinnabherīsvanaṃ balī | bhrāmayāmāsa suciraṃ visphurantamacetasam

The mighty one swung him round for a long time as he roared hugely, with a sound like a cracked drum, writhing and senseless.

Note on the text: Corrected भिन्नभिरी → भिन्नभेरी (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads bhinnabherī-). स्वनं बली for samasvanam is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 63 (3.11.63)

तं विषीदन्तमाज्ञाय राक्षसं पाण्डुनन्दनः । प्रगृह्य तरसा दोर्भ्यां पशुमारममारयत् ॥

taṃ viṣīdantamājñāya rākṣasaṃ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | pragṛhya tarasā dorbhyāṃ paśumāramamārayat

Seeing the rakshasa faint, the son of Pandu swiftly seized him in both arms and killed him as one kills a beast.

Verse 64 (3.11.64)

आक्रम्य च कटीदेशे जानुना राक्षसाधमम् । पीडयामास पाणिभ्यां तस्य कण्ठं वृकोदरः ॥

ākramya ca kaṭīdeśe jānunā rākṣasādhamam | pīḍayāmāsa pāṇibhyāṃ tasya kaṇṭhaṃ vṛkodaraḥ

Pressing down on the vile rakshasa's loins with his knee, Vrikodara squeezed his throat with his hands.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (कण्ठंवृकोदरः → कण्ठं वृकोदरः). The second line (पीडयामास पाणिभ्यां तस्य कण्ठं) is a recension variant of the critical edition's apīḍayata bāhubhyāṃ kaṇṭhaṃ tasya and is kept.

Verse 65 (3.11.65)

अथ जर्जरसर्वाङ्गं व्यावृत्तनयनोल्बणम् । भूतले भ्रामयामास वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह ॥

atha jarjarasarvāṅgaṃ vyāvṛttanayanolbaṇam | bhūtale bhrāmayāmāsa vākyaṃ cedamuvāca ha

Then, with every limb broken and his eyes rolling horribly, he whirled him about on the ground and spoke these words:

Verse 66 (3.11.66)

हिडिम्बबकयोः पाप न त्वमश्रुप्रमार्जनम् । करिष्यसि गतश्चापि यमस्य सदनं प्रति ॥

hiḍimbabakayoḥ pāpa na tvamaśrupramārjanam | kariṣyasi gataścāpi yamasya sadanaṃ prati

"Sinner, you will never wipe away the tears of Hidimba and Baka, for you too have gone to the abode of Yama."

Verse 67 (3.11.67)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा पुरुषप्रवीर- । स्तं राक्षसं क्रोधपरीतचेताः । विस्रस्तवस्त्राभरणं स्फुरन्त- । मुद्भ्रान्तचित्तं व्यसुमुत्ससर्ज ॥

ityevamuktvā puruṣapravīra- | staṃ rākṣasaṃ krodhaparītacetāḥ | visrastavastrābharaṇaṃ sphuranta- | mudbhrāntacittaṃ vyasumutsasarja

Having said this, that foremost of men, his heart seized by rage, let go of the rakshasa, who lay lifeless, his clothes and ornaments torn loose, still twitching, his mind gone.

Note on the text: Corrected उद्धान्त → उद्भ्रान्त (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads udbhrāntacittaṃ). क्रोधपरीतचेताः and विस्रस्त- are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 68 (3.11.68)

तस्मिन्हते तोयदतुल्यरूपे । कृष्णां पुरस्कृत्य नरेन्द्रपुत्राः । भीमं प्रशस्याथ गुणैरनेकै- । र्हृष्टास्ततो द्वैतवनाय जग्मुः ॥

tasminhate toyadatulyarūpe | kṛṣṇāṃ puraskṛtya narendraputrāḥ | bhīmaṃ praśasyātha guṇairanekai- | rhṛṣṭāstato dvaitavanāya jagmuḥ

When he who looked like a rain-cloud was slain, the princes, with Krishna before them, praised Bhima for his many virtues and set out joyfully for Dvaitavana.

Verse 69 (3.11.69)

एवं विनिहतः सङ्ख्ये किर्मीरो मनुजाधिप । भीमेन वचनात्तस्य धर्मराजस्य कौरव ॥

evaṃ vinihataḥ saṅkhye kirmīro manujādhipa | bhīmena vacanāttasya dharmarājasya kaurava

Thus, O lord of men, was Kirmira slain in battle by Bhima at the bidding of the king of dharma, O Kaurava.

Note on the text: Corrected किर्मोरो → किर्मीरो and तस् → तस्य (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads kirmīro and tasya).

Verse 70 (3.11.70)

ततो निष्कण्टकं कृत्वा वनं तदपराजितः । द्रौपद्या सह धर्मज्ञो वसतिं तामुवास ह ॥

tato niṣkaṇṭakaṃ kṛtvā vanaṃ tadaparājitaḥ | draupadyā saha dharmajño vasatiṃ tāmuvāsa ha

Then, having rid the forest of that thorn, the unconquered king who knew dharma made his dwelling there with Draupadi.

Note on the text: Corrected निष्कष्टकं → निष्कण्टकं and तदयराजितः → तदपराजितः (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads niṣkaṇṭakaṃ and tad aparājitaḥ).

Verse 71 (3.11.71)

समाश्वास्य च ते सर्वे द्रौपदीं भरतर्षभाः । प्रहृष्टमनसः प्रीत्या प्रशशंसुर्वृकोदरम् ॥

samāśvāsya ca te sarve draupadīṃ bharatarṣabhāḥ | prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ prītyā praśaśaṃsurvṛkodaram

All those bulls of the Bharatas comforted Draupadi and, glad at heart, praised Vrikodara warmly.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रसशंसुः → प्रशशंसुः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads praśaśaṃsuḥ).

Verse 72 (3.11.72)

भीमबाहुबलोत्पिष्टे विनष्टे राक्षसे ततः । विविशुस्ते वनं वीराः क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम् ॥

bhīmabāhubalotpiṣṭe vinaṣṭe rākṣase tataḥ | viviśuste vanaṃ vīrāḥ kṣemaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam

When the rakshasa had been crushed and destroyed by the might of Bhima's arms, the heroes entered the forest, now safe and rid of its thorn.

Verse 73 (3.11.73)

स मया गच्छता मार्गे विनिकीर्णो भयावहः । वने महति दुष्टात्मा दृष्टो भीमबलाद्धतः ॥

sa mayā gacchatā mārge vinikīrṇo bhayāvahaḥ | vane mahati duṣṭātmā dṛṣṭo bhīmabalāddhataḥ

As I travelled along the road I saw him, that dreadful evil one, lying sprawled in the great forest, slain by Bhima's might.

Verse 74 (3.11.74)

तत्राश्रौषमहं चैतत्कर्म भीमस्य भारत । ब्राह्मणानां कथयतां ये तत्रासन्समागताः ॥

tatrāśrauṣamahaṃ caitatkarma bhīmasya bhārata | brāhmaṇānāṃ kathayatāṃ ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ

There, O Bharata, I heard of this deed of Bhima from the brahmins who had gathered there and were telling of it.

Note on the text: Corrected भीमस् → भीमस्य (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads bhīmasya).

Verse 75 (3.11.75)

एवं विनिहतं सङ्ख्ये किर्मीरं रक्षसां वरम् । श्रुत्वा ध्यानपरो राजा निशश्वासार्तवत्तदा ॥

evaṃ vinihataṃ saṅkhye kirmīraṃ rakṣasāṃ varam | śrutvā dhyānaparo rājā niśaśvāsārtavattadā

Hearing that Kirmira, the best of rakshasas, had been slain thus in battle, the king fell deep in thought and sighed like one in pain.