ayaṁ kāla iti jñātvā kuntī samupasṛtya tān
gatāsūnamṛteneva jīvayantīdamabravīt
Thinking that to be a proper time to appear before them, Kuntī came to them and reviving them as nectar revives a dead man, she spoke thus to them:
kuntī uvāca
kutomūlamidaṁ duḥkhaṁ jñātumicchāmi tattvataḥ
viditvāpyapakarṣeyaṁ śakyaṁ cedapakarṣitum
Kuntī said: I desire to learn from you what is the cause of this grief. Learning it, I shall remove it, if it is capable of being removed.
brāhmaṇa uvāca
upapannaṁ satāmetad yad bravīṣi tapodhane
na tu duḥkhamidaṁ śakyaṁ mānuṣeṇa vyapohitam
Brāhmaṇa said: O ascetic lady! What you say is no doubt worthy of virtuous men, but this grief cannot be removed by any human being!
samīpe nagarasyāsya bako vasati rākṣasaḥ
īśo janapadasyāsya purasya ca mahābalaḥ
puṣṭo mānuṣamāṁsena durbuddhiḥ puruṣādakaḥ
rakṣatyasurarāṇnityamimaṁ janapadaṁ balī
nagaraṁ caiva deśaṁ ca rakṣobalasamanvitaḥ
tatkṛte paracakrācca bhūtebyaśca na no bhayam
Rākṣasa named Baka lives not far off from this town. That greatly powerful cannibal is the lord of this town and of this country. That wicked minded and powerful cannibal, that chief of Asuras, being fattened by eating human flesh, rules over this country. This country and town are protected by the strength of that Rākṣasa. Thus being protected, we have no fear of any enemy nor any living soul.
vetaraṁ tasya vihitaṁ śālivāhasya bhojanam
mahiṣau puruṣaścaiko yastadādāya gacchati
His remuneration however is fixed to supply his food, which consists of one cart load of rice, two buffaloes and the man who takes them to him.
ekaikaścāpi puruṣastat prayacchati bhojanam
sa vāro bahubhirvairṣairbhavatyasukaro naraiḥ
One after another all men of this town send him his food. Through it is very difficult to be kept, yet the turn comes to a particular family at intervals of many years.
tadvimokṣāya ye kecid yatanti puruṣāḥ kvacit
saputradārāṁstān hatvā tad rakṣo bhakṣayatyuta
If people try to avoid it, Rākṣasa then eats them up with their wives and children.
vetrakīyagṛhe rājā nāyaṁ nayamihāsthitaḥ
upāyaṁ taṁ na kurute yatnādapi sa mandadhīḥ
anāmayaṁ janasyāsya yena syādadya śāśvatam
There is a king in a place called Vetrakīyagṛha, but that foolish man does not know how to govern his kingdom and he does not take any steps by which this country may be rendered safe.
etadarhā vayaṁ nūnaṁ vasāmo durbalasya ye
viṣaye nityavāstavyāḥ kurājānamupāśritāḥ
We certainly deserve it all, for we live in ever;asting anxiety in the kingdom of a wretched and weak king.
brāhmaṇāḥ kasya vaktavyāḥ kasya vācchandacāriṇaḥ
guṇairete hi vatsyanti kāmagāḥ pakṣiṇo yathā
Brāhmaṇas can never be made to live permanently in the house of anyone, for they are free men. They depend upon their own accomplishments and roam over the world like a birds, free to fly at pleasure.
rājānaṁ prathamaṁ vindet tato bhāryāṁ tato dhanam
trayasya saṁcayenāsya jñātīn putrāṁśca tārayet
it is said that a good king should be saved first, then a wife and then wealth. By the acquisition of the three, one can rescue his relatives and sons.
viparītaṁ mayā cedaṁ trayaṁ sarvamupārjitam
tadimāmāpadaṁ prāpya bhṛśaṁ tapyāmahe vayam
In the matter of acquisition of these three, my course has been quite the reserve. Therefore, falling into this danger, I am suffering great affections.
so ̍ yamasmānanuprāpto vāraḥ kulavināśanaḥ
bhojanaṁ puruṣaścaikaḥ pradeyaṁ vetanaṁ mayā
Race destroying turn of supplying food to Rākṣasa has come round to me. I shall have to give food and a man as the remuneration to Rākṣasa.
na ca me vidyate vittaṁ saṁkretuṁ puruṣaṁ kvacit
suhṛjjanaṁ pradātuṁ ca na śakṣyāmi kadācana
I have no wealth to buy a man. I shall not be able to give one who is dear to me.
gatiṁ caiva na paśyāmi tasmānmokṣāya rakṣasaḥ
so ̍ haṁ duḥkhārṇave magno mahatyasukare bhṛśam
I do not see any means to save myself from Rākṣasa. Therefore, I am plunged into a great ocean of grief from which there is no escape.
sahaivaitairgamiṣyāmi bāndhavairadya rākṣasam
tato naḥ sahitān kṣudraḥ sarvānevopabhokṣyati
I shall today, with all my family, go to that Rākṣasa, so that this wretch may devour us all at once.
kuntyuvāca
na viṣādastvayā kāryoṅ bhayādasmāt kathaṁcana
upāyaḥ paridṛṣṭo ̍ tra tasmānmokṣāya rakṣasaḥ
Kuntī said: Do not grieve for this, I see the means by which you may be saved from Rākṣasa!
ekastava suto bālaḥ kanyā caikā tapasvinī
na caitayostathā patnyā gamanaṁ tava rocaye
You have only one son who is oftender years. You have only one daughter, who is engaged in vows. I do not like that any of these or you yourself or your wife should go.
mama pañca sutā brahmaṁsteṣāmeko gamiṣyati
tvadarthaṁ babalimādāya tasya pāpasya rakṣasaḥ
I have 5 sons, one of them will go acrrying on your behalf tribute to that sinful Rākṣasa.
brāhmaṇa uvāca
nāhametat kariṣyāmi jīvitārthī kathaṁcana
brāhmaṇasyātithaiścaiva svarthe prāṇān viyojayan
Brāhmaṇa said: I can never do this in order to live. I can not cause the death of a Brāhmaṇa and a guest for saving my own life.
na tvetadakulīnāsu nādharmiṣṭhāsu vidyate
yad brāhmaṇārthaṁ visṛjedātmānamapi cātmajam
Even those who are lowly born and sinful refuse to do this. One should sacrifice himself and children for the sake of a Brāhmaṇa.
ātmanastu mayā śreyo boddhavyamiti rocate
brahmavadhyā ātmavadhyā vā śreyānāmavadho mama
brahmavadhyā paraṁ pāpaṁ niṣkṛtirnātra vidyate
abuddhipūrvaṁ kṛtvāpi vamātmavadho mama
I consider this precept best for me and I like to follow it. Between the death of a Brāhmaṇa and of my own, I would prefer the latter. To kill a Brāhmaṇa is a great sin, of which there is no expiration. It is best for me to sacrifice myself reluctantly instead of sacrificing a Brāhmaṇa reluctantly.
na tvahaṁ vadhamākāṅkṣe svayamevātmanaḥ śubhe
paraiḥ kṛte vadhe pāpaṁ na kiṁcinmayi vidyate
O blessed lady! In sacrificing myself, i do not commit sin of self destruction. I shall commit no sin by being killed by another.
abhisaṁdhikṛte tasmin brāhmaṇasya vadhe mayā
niṣkṛtiṁ na prapaśyāmi nṛśaṁsaṁ kṣudrameva ca
āgatasya gṛhaṁ tyāgastathaiva śaraṇārthinaḥ
yācamānasya ca vadhe nṛśaṁso garhito budhaiḥ
But if I deliberately kill a Brāhmaṇa, I shall commit a cruel and sinful act, from which I shall never escape. Learned men have said that abandonment of those who has come to your house or who has sought your protection and killing of one who seeks death at your hands are both cruel and sinful.
kuryānna ninditaṁ karma na nṛśaṁsaṁ kathaṁcana
iti pūrve mahātmāna āpaddharmavido viduḥ
śreyāṁstu sahadārasya vināśo ̍ dya mama svayam
brāhmaṇasya vadhaṁ nāhamanumaṁsye kadācana
High souled men, learned in the precepts that should be adopted in distress and danger, formerly said that one should never perform a cruel and censurable act. It is the best for me that I shall myself perich today with my wife. I shall newer cause the death of a Brāhmaṇa.
kuntyuvāca
mamāpyeṣā matirbrahman viprā rakṣyā iti sthirā
na cāpyaniṣṭaḥ putro me yadi putraśataṁ bhavet
na cāsau rākṣasaḥ śakto mama putravināśane
vīryavān mantasiddhaśca tejasvī ca suto mama
Kuntī said: O Brāhmaṇa! My firm opinion is that Brāhmaṇas must be protected always. If I have 100 sons, none of them would be less dear to me, but this Rākṣasa will not be able to kill my son. My son is so powerful, energetic and learned in Mantras.
rākṣasāya ca tat sarvaṁ prāpayiṣyati bhojanam
mokṣayiṣyati cā tat sarvaṁ prāpayiṣyati bhojanam
He will deliver the food of Rākṣasa, but he will be able to protect himself. This is my firm belief.
samāgatāśca vīreṇa dṛṣṭapūrvāśca rākṣasāḥ
balavanto mahākāyā nihatāścāpyanekaśaḥ
I have seed before that many powerful and huge Rākṣasas came to my son and were killed at his hands.
na tvidaṁ keṣucid brahman vyāhartavyaṁ kathaṁcana
vidyārthino hi me putrān viprakuryuḥ kutūhalāt
O Brāhmaṇa! Do not by any means disclose this to anyone, for then people, being curious and desirous to test their ability, will trouble my sons.
guruṇā cānanujñāto grāhayed yat suto mama
na sa kuryāt tathā kāryaṁ vidyayeti satāṁ matam
Opinion of learned men is that if my son gives this knowledge to others, without the ascent of this Guru, he will no longer be able to profit from this.
evamuktastu pṛthayā sa vipro bhāryayā saha
hṛṣṭaḥ sampūjayāmāsa tadvākyamamṛtopamam
Vaiśampāyana said: Having been thus addressed by Pṛthā, Brāhmaṇa and his wife became exceedingly glad and ascended to those nectar like words of Kuntī.
tataḥ kuntī ca vipraśca sahitāvanilātmajam
tamabrūtāṁ kuruṣveti sa tathetyabravīcca tau
Thereupon Kuntī and Brāhmaṇa went to the son of Vāyu - Bhīma and told him: Do this! And he replied: Be it so!
vaiśampāyana uvāca
kariṣya iti bhīmena pratijñāte ̍ tha bhārata
ājagmuste tataḥ sarvaṁ baikṣmādāya pāṇḍavāḥ
Vaiśampāyana said: O descendant of Bhārata! When Bhīma accepted this by saying: I shall do this! All Pāṇḍavas came there after collecting food.
ākāreṇaiva taṁ jñātvā pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
rahaḥ samupaviśyaikastataḥ papraccha mātaram
Yudhiṣṭhira learned all this by appearance of Bhīma and sitting by his mother spoke thus to her in private:
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
kiṁ cikīrṣatyayaṁ karma bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ
bhavatyanumate kaccit svayaṁ vā kartumicchati
Yudhiṣṭhira said: What is the work that greatly powerful Bhīma wants to perform? Does he wish to do it by your command or by his own will?
juntyuvāca
mamaiva vacanādeṣa kariṣyati paraṁtapaḥ
brāhmaṇārthe mahat kṛtyaṁ mokṣāya nagarasya ca
Kuntī said: By my request chastiser of foes Bhīma will do this great deed for the sake of Brāhmaṇa and in order to save the town from Rākṣasa.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
kimidaṁ sāhasaṁ tīkṣṇaṁ bhavatyā duṣkaraṁ kṛtam
parityāgaṁ hi putrasya na praśaṁsanti sādhavaḥ
Yudhiṣṭhira said: What a rush has been done by you! Learned men never praise one ̍ s abandonment of his own son!
kathaṁ parasutasyārthe svasutaṁ tyaktumicchasi
lokavedaviruddhaṁ hi putratyāgāt kṛtaṁ tvayā
Why do you wish to abandon your son for the sake of another ̍ s son? You have done this act of abandonment of your son which is not approved by both men and by Vedas.
yasya bāhū samāśritya sukhaṁ sarve śayāmahe
rājyaṁ cāpahṛtaṁ kṣudrairājihīmahe punaḥ
By the strength of whose arms we all sleep in comfort and hope to recover the kingdom of which we have been deprived by the wretches Duryodhana and others.
yasya duryodhano vīryaṁ cintayannamitaujasaḥ
na śete rajanīḥ sarvā duḥkhācchakuninā saha
Remembering whose great prowess, Duryodhana and Śakuni and all others do not sleep for a moment in the midnight in anxiety.
yasya vīrasya vīryeṇa muktā jatugṛhād vayam
anyebhyaścaiva pāpebhyo nihataśca purocanaḥ
By whose heretic prowess we were rescued from the burning house of lac and other dangers, by whom Purocana was killed.
yasya vīraṁ samāśritya vasupūrṇāṁ vasundharām
imāṁ manyāmahe prāptāṁ nihatyā dhṛtarāṣṭrajān
tasya vyavasitastyāgo buddhimāsthāya kāṁ tvayā
kaccinnu duḥkhairbuddhiste viluptā gatacetasaḥ
Relaying on whose prowess we believe ourselves that we have already acquired this Earth full of wealth and have killed sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. On what consideration have you resolved upon abandoning him? Have you lost your senses on account of calamities?
kuntyuvāca
yudhiṣṭhira na saṁtāpastvayā kāryo vṛkodare
na cāyaṁ buddhidaurbalyād vyavasāyaḥ kṛto mayā
Kuntī said: O Yudhiṣṭhira! You need not be anxious for Vṛkodara. I have not resolved to do it out of any weakness of my understanding.
iha viprasya bhavane vayaṁ putra sukhoṣitāḥ
ajñātā dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ satkṛtaḥ vītamanyavaḥ
tasya prītikriyā pārtha mayeyaṁ prasamīkṣitā
etāvāneva puruṣaḥ kṛtaṁ yasmin na naśyati
O son! Our grief being assuaged, we live happily in the house of this Brāhmaṇa, unknown to the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and much respected by him. O Pārtha! I have resolved upon doing this in order to requite him, for he is a true man upon whom good service is never lost.
yāvacca kuryādanyo ̍ sya kuryād bahuguṇaṁ tataḥ
dṛṣṭvā bhīmasya vikrāntaṁ tadā jadugṛhe mahat
hiḍimbasya vadhāccaivaṁ viśvāso me vṛkodare
It is always proper that requital should be greater than the service received. Seeing great prowess of Bhīma in the house of lac and killing Hiḍimbā, my confidence on Vṛkodara is great.
bāhvorbalaṁ hi bhīmasya nāgāyutasamaṁ mahat
yena yūyaṁ gajaprakhyā nirvyūḍhā vāraṇāvatāt
Strength of Bhīma ̍ s srms is as great as that of 10,000 elephants. It was therefore that he was able to carry you, all as heavy as elephants from Varaṇāvata.
vṛkodareṇa sadṛśo balenānyo na vidyate
yo ̍ bhyudīyād yudhi śreṣṭhamapi vajradhraṁ svayam
There is none so strong as Vṛkodara. He may even vanquish in battle Indra himself.
jātamātraḥ purā caiva mamāṅkāt patito girau
śarīragauravadasya śilā gātrairvicūrṇitā
As soon as he was born, he fell from my lap on the stone. The mass of stone on which he fell was broken into pieces by the weight of his body.
tadahaṁ prajñaṁ prajñayā jñātvā balaṁ bhīmasya pāṇḍava
pratikārye ca viprasya tataḥ kṛtavatī matim
O Pāṇḍava! From that day I have come to know the great strength of Bhīma. Therefore, I am desirous of requiting the services of Brāhmaṇa.
nedaṁ lobhānna cājñānna ca mohād viniścitam
buddhipūrvaṁ tu dharmasya vyavasāyaḥ kṛto mayā
I have ot done this from foolishness, from ignorance or from any motive of gain. I have deliberately resolved to do this virtuous act.
arthau dvāvapi niṣpannau yudhiṣṭhira bhaviṣyataḥ
pratīkāraśca vāsasya dharmaśca caritao mahān
O Yudhiṣṭhira! Two objects will be gained by this act. One is the requital of Brāhmaṇa ̍ s services to us and the other is acquisition of great religious merit.
yo brāhmaṇasya sāhāyyaṁ kuryādartheṣu karhicit
kṣatriyaḥ sa śubhām̐llokānāpnuyāditi me matiḥ
It is my opinion that Kṣatriya who helps a Brāhmaṇa, obtains the regions of bliss in after life.
kṣatriyaiva kurvāṇaḥ kṣatriyo vadhamokṣaṇam
vipulāṁ kīrtimāpnoti loke ̍ smiṁśca paratra ca
Kṣatriya who saves life of a Kṣatriya, acquires great fame an this and in the next world.
vaiśyasyārthe ca sāhāyyaṁ kurvāṇaḥ kṣatriyo bhuvi
sa sarveṣvapi lokeṣu prajā rañjayate dhruvam
Kṣatriya who helps a Vaiśya on Earth, certainly becomes popular among men.
śūdraṁ tu mocayed rājā śaraṇārthinamāgatam
prāpnotīha kule janma saddravye rājapūjite
King should even protect a Śūdra who seeks protection. If he does so, he is born in the next birth in a royal family, possessing property and being adored by other kings.
evaṁ māṁ bhagavān vyāsaḥ purā pauravanndana
provācāsukaraprajñastasmādevaṁ cikīrṣitam
O descendant of Kuru! Illustrious and wise Vyāsa formerly told me this. Therefore I am resolved upon doing this.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
upapannamidaṁ mātastvayā yad buddhipūrvakam
ārtasya brāhmaṇasyaitadanukrośādidaṁ kṛtam
Yudhiṣṭhira said: O mother! What you have deliberately done, moved by compassion for affeced Brāhmaṇa, is indeed excellent.
dhruvameṣyati bhīmo ̍ yaṁ nihatya puruṣādakam
sarvathā brāhmaṇasyārthe yadanukrośavatyasi
Because you are compassionate for Brāhmaṇa, Bhīma will certainly come back after killing cannibal.
yathā tvidaṁ na vindeyurnarā nagaravāsinaḥ
tathāyaṁ brāhmaṇo vācyaḥ parigrāhyaśca yatnataḥ
But tell Brāhmaṇa that he must not do anything by which people of his town may know all about it. You must carefully make him promise this.
vaiśampāyana uvāca
tato rātryāṁ vyatītāyāmannamādāya pāṇḍavaḥ
bhīmaseno yayau tatra yatrāsau puruṣādakaḥ
āsādya tu vanaṁ tasya rakṣasaḥ pāṇḍavo balī
ājuhāva tato nāmnā tadannamupapādayan
Vaiśampāyana said: When night passed away, Pāṇḍava Bhīmasena, taking with him food for Rākṣasa, set out for the place where cannibal dwelt. Reaching the forest in which Rākṣasa lived, greatly strong Pāṇḍava Bhīma began to eat himself the food and called Rākṣasa by name.
tataḥ sa rākṣasaḥ kruddho bhīmasya vacanāt tadā
ājagāma susaṁkruddho yatra bhīmo vyavasthitaḥ
Thereupon Rākṣasa was inflamed with anger by Bhīma ̍ s words and he came in wrath to the place where Bhīma was.
mahākāyo mahāvego dārayanniva medinīm
lohitākṣaḥ karālaśca lohitaśmaśrumūrdhajaḥ
Of huge body, great strength, fierce appearance, red eyes, red beard, red hair, he pressed Earth as he was walking.
ākarṇād bhinnavaktraśca śarūkarṇo vibhīṣaṇaḥ
triśistrāṁ bhrukuṭiṁ kṛtvā saṁdaśya daśanacchadam
bhujjānamannaṁ taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasena sa rākṣasaḥ
vivṛtya nayane kruddha idaṁ vacanamabravīt
Opening of his mouth was from ear to ear, his ears were like arrows, his visage was grim and his forehead furrowed into three lines. Seeing Bhīma engaged in eating his food, Rākṣasa spoke thus in anger with eyes expanded and lips bitten.
ko ̍ yamannamidaṁ bhuṅkte madarthamupakalpitam
paśyato mama durbuddhiryiyāsuryamasādanam
Rākṣasa said: Who is that fool who desires to go to the land of dead by eating in my very sight the food intended for me?
bhīmasenastataḥ śrutvā prahasanniva bhārata
rākṣasaṁ tamanādṛtya bhjuṅkta eva paraṅmukhaḥ
O descendant of Bharata! Hearing this, Bhīmasena smiled in derision and disregarding Rākṣasa and turning his head continued to eat.
ravaṁ sa bhairavaṁ kṛtvā samudyamya karāvubhau
abhyadravad bhīmasenaṁ jighāṁsuḥ puruṣādakaḥ
Uttering fearful yell, cannibal rushed on Bhīma with two arms raised high and with intention of killing Bhīmasena.
tathāpi paribhūyainaṁ prekṣamāṇo vṛkodaraḥ
rākṣasaṁ bhuṅkta evānnaṁ pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā
amarṣeṇa tu sampūrṇaḥ kuntīputraṁ vṛkodaram
jaghāna pṛṣṭhe pāṇibhyāmubhābhyāṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ sthitaḥ
That slayer of hostile heroes, Pāṇḍava Bhīma, even then disregarding him and casting on him only a single glance, continued to eat the food of Rākṣasa. Being filled with great displeasure, Rākṣasa struck heavy blow with both his hands on the back of Kaunteya Vṛkodara.
tathā balavatā bhimaḥ pāṇibhyāṁ bhṛśamāhataḥ
naivāvalokayāmāsa rākṣasaṁ bhuṅkta eva saḥ
Though Bhīma was struck with great force by the arms of Rākṣasa, yet he did not even look at him, but continued eating.
tataḥ sa bhūyaḥ saṁkruddho vṛkṣamādāya rākṣasaḥ
tāḍayiṣyaṁatadā bhīmaṁ punarabhyadravad balī
Thereupon Rākṣasa became very angry, tore up a tree and run at Bhīma to strike him again.
tato bhīmaḥ śanairbhuktvā tadannaṁ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
vāryupaspṛśya saṁhṛṣṭastasthau yuddhi mahābalaḥ
That best of men, greatly strong Bhīma, leisurely ate up all the food and then washing himself, stood up cheerfully to fight.
kṣiptaṁ kruddhena taṁ vṛkṣaṁ pratijagrāha vīryavān
savyena pāṇinā bhīmaḥ prahasanniva bhārata
O descendant of Bharata! Greatly powerful Bhīma smilingly caught in his left hand the tree hurled in anger by Rākṣasa.
tataḥ sa punarudyamya vṛkṣān bahuvidhān balī
prahiṇod bhīmasenāya tasmai bhīmaśca pāṇḍavaḥ
Then that mighty Rākṣasa tearing up various trees, hurled them at Bhīma and Pāṇḍava also hurled many on Rākṣasa.
tad vṛkṣayuddhamabhavanmahīruhavināśanam
ghorarūpaṁ mahārāja nararākṣasarājayoḥ
O great king! Fight between man and Rākṣasa with trees became devoid of all trees.
nāma viśrāvya bakaḥ samabhidrutya pāṇḍavam
bhujābhyāṁ parijagrāha bhīmasenaṁ mahābalam
Saying that he is no other than Baka, he sprang upon Pāṇḍava and clasped greatly powerful Bhīma with both his hands.
bhīmaseno ̍ pi tad rakṣaḥ parirabhya mahābhujaḥ
visphurantaṁ mahābāhuṁ cicakarṣa balād balī
Bhīmasena also clasped Rākṣasa with his strong hands. Mighty hero began to drag him violently.
sa kṛṣyamāṇo bhīmena karṣamāṇaśca pāṇḍavam
samayujyata tīvreṇa klamena puruṣādakaḥ
Being dragged by Bhīma and dragging Bhīma also, cannibal was gradually overcome by great fatique.
tayorvegena mahatā pṛthivī samakampata
pāṇḍapāṁśca mahākāyāṁścūrṇayāmāsatustadā
Earth trembled in consequence of their great strength and large trees that stood there were broken into pieces.
hīyamānaṁ tu tad rakṣaḥ samīkṣya puruṣādakam
niṣpiṣya bhūmau jānubhyāṁ samājaghne vṛkodaraḥ
Seeing that cannibal was overcome with fatique, Vṛkodara pressed him down on the ground with his knees and began to strike him with great force.
tato ̍ sya jānunā pṛṣṭhamavapīḍya balādiva
bāhunā parijagrāha dakṣiṇena śirodharām
savyena ca kaṭīdeśe gṛhya vāsasi pāṇḍavaḥ
tad rakṣo dviguṇaṁ cakre ruvantaṁ bhairavaṁ ravam
Then placing one knee on the middle of his back, BHīma seized his neck with his right hand and his waist cloth with his left and broke him into two with great force. Cannibal then uttered a fearful yell.
tato ̍ sya rudhiraṁ vaktrāt prādurāsīd viśāmpate
bhajyamānasya bhīmena tasya ghorasya rakṣasaḥ
O Viśampata! Then Rākṣasa, while thus fearfully broken by Bhīma, vomited blood.
vaiśampāyana uvāca
tataḥ sa bhagnapārśvāṅgo naditvā bhairavaṁ ravam
śailarājapratīkāśo gatāsurabhavad bakaḥ
Vaiśampāyana said: Baka, huge as mountain, being thus broken by Bhīma, died uttering fearful yells.
tena śabdena vitrasto janastasyātha rakṣasaḥ
niṣpapāta gṛhād rājan sahaiva paricāribhaḥ
tān bhītān vigatajñānān bhīmaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ
sāntvayāmāsa balavān samaye ca nyaveśayat
na hiṁsyā mānuṣā bhūyo yuṣmābhiriti karhicit
hiṁsatāṁ hi vadhaḥ śīghramevameva bhavediti
O king! Terrifying by that noise, relatives of that Rākṣasa with their attendants came out of their houses. Seeing them terrified and deprived of reason, that best of wielders of weapons, strong Bhīma, comforted them and made them promise to give up cannibalism.
Bhīma said: Do not kill again men, if you do so, you will be killed like this Baka!
tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā tāni rakṣāṁsi bhārata
evamastviti taṁ prāhurjagṛhuḥ samayaṁ ca tam
Vaiśampāyana said: O descendant of Bharata! Hearing his these words, those Rākṣasas gave desired promise by saying: Be it so!
tataḥ prabhṛti rakṣāṁsi tatra saumyāni bhārata
nagare pratyadṛśyanta nararnagaravāsibhiḥ
O descendant of Bharata! From that day people inhabiting that town saw Rākṣasas very peaceful towards mankind.
tato bhīmastamādāya gatāsuṁ puruṣādakam
dvāradeśe vinikṣipya jagāmānupalakṣitaḥ
Then Bhīma took the dead cannibal and placed him at one of the gates of the city unobserved by anyone and then went away.
dṛṣṭvā bhīmabalodbhūtaṁ bakaṁ vinihataṁ tadā
jñātayo ̍ sya bhayodvignāḥ pratijagmustatastataḥ
Seeing Baka killed by Bhīma and his extraordinary strength, kinsmen of Rākṣasas became frightened and ran away in different directions.
tataḥ sa bhīmastaṁ hatvā gatvā brāhmaṇaveśma tat
ācacakṣe yathāvṛtaṃ rājñaḥ sarvamaśeṣataḥ
Then Bhīma, killing thus Baka, returned to the house of Brāhmaṇa and described to Yudhiṣṭhira in detail all that had happened.
tato narā viniṣkrāntā nagarāt kalyameva tu
dadṛśurnihataṁ bhūmau rākṣasaṁ rudhirokṣitam
Next morning inhabitants of the town coming out saw Rākṣasa lying dead around, his body covered with blood.
tamadrikūṭasadṛśaṁ vinikīrṇaṁ bhayānakam
dṛṣṭvā saṁhṛṣṭaromāṇo babhūvustatra nāgarāḥ
Hair of the citizens stood on end when they saw fearful cannibal huge as mountain cliff.
ekacakrāṁ tato gatvā pravṛttiṁ pradaduḥ pure
tataḥ sahasraśo rājan narā nagaravāsinaḥ
tatrājagmurbakaṁ satrīvṛddhakumārakāḥ
tataste vismitāḥ sarve karma dṛṣṭvātimānuṣam
daivatānyarcayāṁcakruḥ sarva eva viśāmpate
Going to Ekacakra, they soon gave information and thousands of citizens accompanied by their wives, young and old, all went there to see Baka. They were all astonished at seeing super human feat. O king! They began to worship gods.
tataḥ pragaṇayāmāsuḥ kasya vāro ̍ dya bhojane
jñātvā cāgamya taṁ vipraṁ papracchuḥ sarva eva te
They then began to calculate whose turn was to supply food to Rākṣasaon the previous day. ascertaining this, they all came to that Brāhmaṇa and asked him as if he knew anything about the matter.
evaṁ pṛṣṭaḥ sa bahuśo rakṣamāṇaśca pāṇḍavān
uvāca nāgarān sarvānidaṁ viprarṣabhastadā
Having been thus repeatedly asked by them, that best of Brāhmaṇas spoke thus to all the citizens in order to conceal Pāṇḍavas.
ājñāpitaṁ māmaśane rudantaṁ saha bandhubhiḥ
dadarśa brāhmaṇaḥ kaścinmantrasiddho mahāmanāḥ
Seeing me weeping with my friends when I was ordered to supply food for Rākṣasa, a high minded Brāhmaṇa, learned in Mantras, saw me.
paripṛcchya sa māṁ pūrvaṁ parikleśaṁ purasya ca
abravīd brāhmaṇaśreṣṭho viśvāsya prahasanniva
prapayiṣyāmyahaṁ tasmā anmetad durātmane
mannimittaṁ bhayaṁ cāpi na kāryamiti cābravīt
Asking me the cause and knowing the calamity that hangs over the town, that best of Brāhmaṇas gave me every assurance and spoke to me with smiles: I shall carry today the food to that wicked minded wretch, do not fear for me!
sa tadannamupādāya gato bakavanaṁ prati
tena nūnaṁ bhavedetat karma lokahitaṁ kṛtam
And taking food, set put for the forest where Baka lived. This deed, so beneficial to us, must have been done by him.
tataste brāhmaṇāḥ sarve kṣatriyāśca suvismitaḥ
vaiśyāḥ śūdrāśca muditāścakrurbrahmamahaṁ tadā
Thereupon all Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas became exceedingly astonished and Vaiśyas, Śūdras, became exceedingly glad.
tato jānapadāḥ sarve ājagmurnagaraṁ prati
tadadbhutatamaṁ draṣṭuṁ pārthāstatraiva cāvasan
Thereupon all the citizens returned to the city after seeing that extraordinary feat. Pāṇḍavas also lived there.
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