Bhima Refuses to Turn Back

Verse 1 (3.142.1)

अन्तर्हितानि भूतानि रक्षांसि बलवन्ति च । अग्निना तपसा चैव शक्यं गन्तुं वृकोदर ॥

antarhitāni bhūtāni rakṣāṃsi balavanti ca | agninā tapasā caiva śakyaṃ gantuṃ vṛkodara

Yudhishthira said: Invisible beings and mighty rakshasas dwell here; this way can be travelled only through the sacred fire and austerity, Vrikodara.

Verse 2 (3.142.2)

सन्निवर्तय कौन्तेय क्षुत्पिपासे बलाश्रयात् । ततो बलं च दाक्ष्यं च संश्रयस्व वृकोदर ॥

sannivartaya kaunteya kṣutpipāse balāśrayāt | tato balaṃ ca dākṣyaṃ ca saṃśrayasva vṛkodara

Hold back hunger and thirst, son of Kunti, by relying on your strength; then take your stand on strength and skill, Vrikodara.

Verse 3 (3.142.3)

ऋषेस्त्वया श्रुतं वाक्यं कैलासं पर्वतं प्रति । बुद्ध्या प्रपश्य कौन्तेय कथं कृष्णा गमिष्यति ॥

ṛṣestvayā śrutaṃ vākyaṃ kailāsaṃ parvataṃ prati | buddhyā prapaśya kaunteya kathaṃ kṛṣṇā gamiṣyati

You have heard the sage's words about Mount Kailasa. Consider with your understanding, son of Kunti, how Krishna is to go on.

Verse 4 (3.142.4)

अथवा सहदेवेन धौम्येन च समं विभो । सूतैः पौरोगवैश्चैव सर्वैश्च परिचारकैः ॥

athavā sahadevena dhaumyena ca samaṃ vibho | sūtaiḥ paurogavaiścaiva sarvaiśca paricārakaiḥ

Or else, mighty one, together with Sahadeva and Dhaumya, with the charioteers, the stewards of the kitchen and all the attendants,

Verse 5 (3.142.5)

रथैरश्वैश्च ये चान्ये विप्राः क्लेशासहाः पथि । सर्वैस्त्वं सहितो भीम निवर्तस्वायतेक्षण ॥

rathairaśvaiśca ye cānye viprāḥ kleśāsahāḥ pathi | sarvaistvaṃ sahito bhīma nivartasvāyatekṣaṇa

with the chariots and horses, and the other brahmins who cannot bear the hardships of the road: go back with all of them, long-eyed Bhima.

Verse 6 (3.142.6)

त्रयो वयं गमिष्यामो लघ्वाहारा यतव्रताः । अहं च नकुलश्चैव लोमशश्च महातपाः ॥

trayo vayaṃ gamiṣyāmo laghvāhārā yatavratāḥ | ahaṃ ca nakulaścaiva lomaśaśca mahātapāḥ

Three of us will go on, eating little and keeping our vows: I, Nakula, and Lomasha of great austerity.

Note on the text: Corrected लध्वाहारा → लघ्वाहारा (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ, critical edition laghvāhārā).

Verse 7 (3.142.7)

ममागमनमाकाङ्क्षन्गङ्गाद्वारे समाहितः । वसेह द्रौपदीं रक्षन्यावदागमनं मम ॥

mamāgamanamākāṅkṣangaṅgādvāre samāhitaḥ | vaseha draupadīṃ rakṣanyāvadāgamanaṃ mama

Wait for my return at Gangadvara, watchful, and stay here guarding Draupadi until I come back.

Note on the text: Corrected ग्गाद्वारे → गङ्गाद्वारे (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct in the place-name, critical edition gaṅgādvāre).

Verse 8 (3.142.8)

राजपुत्री श्रमेणार्ता दुःखार्ता चैव भारत । व्रजत्येव हि कल्याणी श्वेतवाहदिदृक्षया ॥

rājaputrī śrameṇārtā duḥkhārtā caiva bhārata | vrajatyeva hi kalyāṇī śvetavāhadidṛkṣayā

Bhima said: The princess is worn out with toil and stricken with grief, O Bharata, yet the gentle lady keeps going, longing to see the hero of the white horses.

Verse 9 (3.142.9)

तव चाप्यरतिस्तीव्रा वर्तते तमपश्यतः । गुडाकेशं महात्मानं संग्रामेष्वपलायिनम् । किं पुनः सहदेवं च मां च कृष्णां च भारत ॥

tava cāpyaratistīvrā vartate tamapaśyataḥ | guḍākeśaṃ mahātmānaṃ saṃgrāmeṣvapalāyinam | kiṃ punaḥ sahadevaṃ ca māṃ ca kṛṣṇāṃ ca bhārata

You too feel a sharp unease at not seeing him, Gudakesha, the great-souled, who never flees in battle; how much more Sahadeva, and I, and Krishna, O Bharata!

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (तवचाप्यरति → तव चाप्यरति). Lines 1 and 3 are 3.141.9 of the critical edition; line 2 (गुडाकेशं … अपलायिनम्) is not in its constituted text and appears in its apparatus as 3.141.9b*0680 (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (3.142.10)

द्विजाः कामं निवर्तन्तां सर्वे च परिचारकाः । सूताः पौरोगवाश्चैव यं च मन्येत नो भवान् ॥

dvijāḥ kāmaṃ nivartantāṃ sarve ca paricārakāḥ | sūtāḥ paurogavāścaiva yaṃ ca manyeta no bhavān

Let the brahmins turn back if they wish, and all the attendants, the charioteers and the stewards of the kitchen, and anyone else you think fit.

Verse 11 (3.142.11)

न ह्यहं हातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमिह कर्हिचित् । शैलेऽस्मिन्राक्षसाकीर्णे दुर्गेषु विषमेषु च ॥

na hyahaṃ hātumicchāmi bhavantamiha karhicit | śaile'sminrākṣasākīrṇe durgeṣu viṣameṣu ca

I will never leave you here on this rakshasa-haunted mountain, among its rough and difficult places.

Note on the text: Corrected विपमेषु → विषमेषु (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, critical edition viṣameṣu).

Verse 12 (3.142.12)

इयं चापि महाभागा राजपुत्री पतिव्रता । त्वामृते पुरुषव्याघ्र नोत्सहेद्विनिवर्तितुम् ॥

iyaṃ cāpi mahābhāgā rājaputrī pativratā | tvāmṛte puruṣavyāghra notsahedvinivartitum

And this noble princess, devoted to her husbands, would not consent to turn back without you, tiger among men.

Verse 13 (3.142.13)

तथैव सहदेवोऽयं सततं त्वामनुव्रतः । न जातु विनिवर्तेत मतज्ञो ह्यहमस्य वै ॥

tathaiva sahadevo'yaṃ satataṃ tvāmanuvrataḥ | na jātu vinivarteta matajño hyahamasya vai

Nor would Sahadeva here, always devoted to you, ever turn back; I know his mind.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (तथैवसहदेवो → तथैव सहदेवो).

Verse 14 (3.142.14)

अपि चात्र महाराज सव्यसाचिदिदृक्षया । सर्वे लालसभूताः स्म तस्माद्यास्यामहे सह ॥

api cātra mahārāja savyasācididṛkṣayā | sarve lālasabhūtāḥ sma tasmādyāsyāmahe saha

Besides, great king, we are all eager to see Savyasachin; so we will go together.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (अपिचात्र → अपि चात्र).

Verse 15 (3.142.15)

यद्यशक्यो रथैर्गन्तुं शैलोऽयं बहुकन्दरः । पद्भिरेव गमिष्यामो मा राजन्विमना भव ॥

yadyaśakyo rathairgantuṃ śailo'yaṃ bahukandaraḥ | padbhireva gamiṣyāmo mā rājanvimanā bhava

If this mountain with its many caves cannot be crossed by chariot, we will go on foot. Do not be downcast, O king.

Verse 16 (3.142.16)

अहं वहिष्ये पाञ्चालीं यत्र यत्र न शक्ष्यति । इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिर्मा राजन्विमना भव ॥

ahaṃ vahiṣye pāñcālīṃ yatra yatra na śakṣyati | iti me vartate buddhirmā rājanvimanā bhava

Wherever Panchali cannot go on, I will carry her. This is my resolve; do not be downcast, O king.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (यत्रयत्र → यत्र यत्र).

Verse 17 (3.142.17)

सुकुमारौ तथा वीरौ माद्रीनन्दिकरावुभौ । दुर्गे संतारयिष्यामि यत्राशक्तौ भविष्यतः ॥

sukumārau tathā vīrau mādrīnandikarāvubhau | durge saṃtārayiṣyāmi yatrāśaktau bhaviṣyataḥ

And the two tender heroes who are the joy of Madri, I will carry across the hard places wherever they are unable to go on.

Verse 18 (3.142.18)

एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं भीमाभिवर्धताम् । यत्त्वमुत्सहसे वोढुं पाञ्चालीं विपुलेऽध्वनि ॥

evaṃ te bhāṣamāṇasya balaṃ bhīmābhivardhatām | yattvamutsahase voḍhuṃ pāñcālīṃ vipule'dhvani

Yudhishthira said: Since you speak like this, Bhima, may your strength increase, you who undertake to carry Panchali along this long road.

Verse 19 (3.142.19)

यमजौ चापि भद्रं ते नैतदन्यत्र विद्यते । बलं तव यशश्चैव धर्मः कीर्तिश्च वर्धताम् ॥

yamajau cāpi bhadraṃ te naitadanyatra vidyate | balaṃ tava yaśaścaiva dharmaḥ kīrtiśca vardhatām

And the twins as well. Bless you; such courage is found in no one else. May your strength, your fame, your merit and your renown increase,

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (यशश्चैवधर्मः → यशश्चैव धर्मः).

Verse 20 (3.142.20)

यत्त्वमुत्सहसे नेतुं भ्रातरौ सह कृष्णया । मा ते ग्लानिर्महाबाहो मा च तेऽस्तु पराभवः ॥

yattvamutsahase netuṃ bhrātarau saha kṛṣṇayā | mā te glānirmahābāho mā ca te'stu parābhavaḥ

since you undertake to bring your two brothers along with Krishna. May you never tire, mighty-armed one, and may you never meet defeat.

Verse 21 (3.142.21)

ततः कृष्णाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रहसन्ती मनोरमा । गमिष्यामि न संतापः कार्यो मां प्रति भारत ॥

tataḥ kṛṣṇā'bravīdvākyaṃ prahasantī manoramā | gamiṣyāmi na saṃtāpaḥ kāryo māṃ prati bhārata

Vaishampayana said: Then lovely Krishna spoke, laughing: 'I will go on. Do not grieve on my account, O Bharata.'

Note on the text: Corrected संताप → संतापः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the noun is the subject of कार्यः, critical edition saṃtāpaḥ).

Verse 22 (3.142.22)

तपसा शक्यते गन्तुं पर्वतो गन्धमादनः । तपसा चैव कौन्तेय सर्वे योक्ष्यामहे वयम् ॥

tapasā śakyate gantuṃ parvato gandhamādanaḥ | tapasā caiva kaunteya sarve yokṣyāmahe vayam

Lomasha said: Mount Gandhamadana can be reached only by austerity; and to austerity, son of Kunti, we shall all apply ourselves.

Verse 23 (3.142.23)

नकुलः सहदेवश्च भीमसेनश्च पार्थिव । अहं च त्वं च कौन्तेय द्रक्ष्यामः श्वेतवाहनम् ॥

nakulaḥ sahadevaśca bhīmasenaśca pārthiva | ahaṃ ca tvaṃ ca kaunteya drakṣyāmaḥ śvetavāhanam

Nakula and Sahadeva and Bhimasena, O king, and I and you, son of Kunti, shall see the hero of the white horses.

Note on the text: Corrected भीमसेनश् → भीमसेनश्च (misprint in Wikisource; dropped च, which the metre needs, critical edition bhīmasenaś ca).

Verse 24 (3.142.24)

एवं संभाषमाणास्ते सुबाहुविषयं महत् । ददृशुर्मुदिता राजन्प्रभूतगजवाजिमत् ॥

evaṃ saṃbhāṣamāṇāste subāhuviṣayaṃ mahat | dadṛśurmuditā rājanprabhūtagajavājimat

Vaishampayana said: Talking together in this way, they joyfully came in sight of Subahu's great kingdom, rich in elephants and horses, O king,

Verse 25 (3.142.25)

किराततङ्गणाकीर्णं पुलिन्दशतसंकुलम् । हिमवत्यमरैर्जुष्टं बह्वाश्चर्यसमाकुलम् । सुबाहुश्चापि तान्दृष्ट्वा पूजया प्रत्यगृह्णत ॥

kirātataṅgaṇākīrṇaṃ pulindaśatasaṃkulam | himavatyamarairjuṣṭaṃ bahvāścaryasamākulam | subāhuścāpi tāndṛṣṭvā pūjayā pratyagṛhṇata

crowded with Kiratas and Tanganas, thronged with hundreds of Pulindas, set in the Himalaya, frequented by the immortals and full of many wonders. And Subahu, seeing them, received them with honour,

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (पूजयाप्रत्यगृह्णत → पूजया प्रत्यगृह्णत). Lines 1–2 are 3.141.25 and line 3 is 3.141.26a of the critical edition (which reads kuṇinda for पुलिन्द/कुलिन्द throughout this passage).

Verse 26 (3.142.26)

विषयान्ते कुलिन्दानामीश्वरः प्रीतिपूर्वकम् । तत्र ते पूजितास्तेन सर्व एव सुखोषिताः ॥

viṣayānte kulindānāmīśvaraḥ prītipūrvakam | tatra te pūjitāstena sarva eva sukhoṣitāḥ

he, the lord of the Kulindas, gladly, at the border of his realm. Honoured by him there, they all stayed in comfort.

Note on the text: Corrected सुखोपिताः → सुखोषिताः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, critical edition sukhoṣitāḥ). Line 1 is 3.141.26c and line 2 is 3.141.27a of the critical edition.

Verse 27 (3.142.27)

प्रतस्थुर्विमले सूर्ये हिमवन्तं गिरिं प्रति । इन्द्रसेनमुखांश्चापि भृत्यान्पौरोगवांस्तथा ॥

pratasthurvimale sūrye himavantaṃ giriṃ prati | indrasenamukhāṃścāpi bhṛtyānpaurogavāṃstathā

When the sun shone clear, they set out toward the Himalaya mountain. Indrasena and the other servants, the stewards of the kitchen,

Note on the text: Line 1 is 3.141.27c and line 2 is 3.141.28a of the critical edition.

Verse 28 (3.142.28)

सूदांश्च पारिबर्हांश्च द्रौपद्याः सर्वशो नृप । राज्ञः कुलिन्दाधिपतेः परिदाय महारथाः ॥

sūdāṃśca pāribarhāṃśca draupadyāḥ sarvaśo nṛpa | rājñaḥ kulindādhipateḥ paridāya mahārathāḥ

the cooks, and all of Draupadi's belongings, O king, the great chariot-warriors entrusted to the king, the lord of the Kulindas,

Note on the text: Line 1 is 3.141.28c and line 2 is 3.141.29a of the critical edition.

Verse 29 (3.142.29)

पद्भिरेव महावीर्या ययुः कौरवनन्दनाः । ते शनैः प्राद्रवन्सर्वे कृष्णया सह पाण्डवाः । तस्माद्देशात्सुसंहृष्टा द्रष्टुकामा धनंजयम् ॥

padbhireva mahāvīryā yayuḥ kauravanandanāḥ | te śanaiḥ prādravansarve kṛṣṇayā saha pāṇḍavāḥ | tasmāddeśātsusaṃhṛṣṭā draṣṭukāmā dhanaṃjayam

and the mighty descendants of Kuru went on foot. All the Pandavas moved slowly on with Krishna, setting out from that land in high spirits, eager to see Dhananjaya.

Note on the text: Line 1 is 3.141.29c and lines 2–3 are 3.141.30 of the critical edition.