The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION CLIII (Jatugriha Parva continued)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION CLIII

(Jatugriha Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said," As the mighty Bhima proceeded, the whole forest with

its trees and their branches seemed to tremble, in consequence of their

clash with his breast. The motion of his thighs raised a wind like unto

that which blows during the months of Jyaishtha and Ashadha (May and

June). And the mighty Bhima proceeded, making a path for himself, but

treading down the trees and creepers before him. In fact, he broke (by

the pressure of his body) the large trees and plants, with their flowers

and fruits, standing on his way. Even so passeth through the woods

breaking down mighty trees, the leader of a herd of elephants, of the age

of sixty years, angry and endued with excess of energy, during the season

of rut when the liquid juice trickle down the three parts of his body.

Indeed, so great was the force with which Bhima endued with the speed of

Garuda or of Marut (the god of wind), proceeded that the Pandavas seemed

to faint in consequence. Frequently swimming across streams difficult of

being crossed, the Pandavas disguised themselves on their way from fear

of the sons of Dhritarashtra. And Bhima carried on his shoulder his

illustrious mother of delicate sensibilities along the uneven banks of

rivers. Towards the evening, O bull of Bharata's race, Bhima (bearing his

brothers and mother on his back) reached a terrible forest where fruits

and roots and water were scarce and which resounded with the terrible

cries of birds and beasts. The twilight deepened the cries of birds and

beasts became fiercer, darkness shrouded everything from the view and

untimely winds began to blow that broke and laid low many a tree large

and small and many creepers with dry leaves and fruits. The Kaurava

princes, afflicted with fatigue and thirst, and heavy with sleep, were

unable to proceed further. They then all sat down in that forest without

food and drink. Then Kunti, smitten with thirst, said unto her sons, 'I

am the mother of the five Pandavas and am now in their midst. Yet I am

burning with thirst!' Kunti repeatedly said this unto her sons. Hearing

these words, Bhima's heart, from affection for his mother, was warmed by

compassion and he resolved to go (along as before). Then Bhima,

proceeding through that terrible and extensive forest without a living

soul, saw a beautiful banian tree with widespreading branches. Setting

down there his brothers and mother, O bull of Bharata's race; he said

unto them, 'Rest you here, while I go in quest of water. I hear the sweet

cries of aquatic fowls. I think there must be a large pool here.'

Commanded, O Bharata, by his elder brother who said unto him, 'Go', Bhima

proceeded in the direction whence the cries of those aquatic fowls were

coming. And, O bull of Bharata's race, he soon came upon a lake and

bathed and slaked his thirst. And affectionate unto his brothers, he

brought for them, O Bharata, water by soaking his upper garments. Hastily

retracing his way over those four miles he came unto where his mother was

and beholding her he was afflicted with sorrow and began to sigh like a

snake. Distressed with grief at seeing his mother and brothers asleep on

the bare ground, Vrikodara began to weep, 'Oh, wretch that I am, who

behold my brothers asleep on the bare ground, what can befall me more

painful than this? Alas, they who formerly at Varanavata could not sleep

on the softest and costliest beds are now asleep on the bare ground! Oh,

what more painful sight shall I ever behold than that of Kunti--the

sister of Vasudeva, that grinder of hostile hosts--the daughter of

Kuntiraja,--herself decked with every auspicious mark, the

daughter-in-law of Vichitravirya,--the wife of the illustrious

Pandu,--the mother of us (five brothers),--resplendent as the filaments

of the lotus and delicate and tender and fit to sleep on the costliest

bed--thus asleep, as she should never be, on the bare ground! Oh, she who

hath brought forth these sons by Dharma and Indra and Maruta--she who

hath ever slept within palaces--now sleepeth, fatigued, on the bare

ground! What more painful sight shall ever be beheld by me than that of

these tigers among men (my brothers) asleep on the ground! Oh, the

virtuous Yudhishthira, who deserveth the sovereignty of the three worlds,

sleepeth, fatigued, like an ordinary man, on the bare ground! This Arjuna

of the darkish hue of blue clouds, and unequalled amongst men sleepeth on

the ground like an ordinary person! Oh, what can be more painful than

this? Oh the twins, who in beauty are like the twin Aswins amongst the

celestials, are asleep like ordinary mortals on the bare ground! He who

hath no jealous evil-minded relatives, liveth in happiness in this world

like a single tree in a village. The tree that standeth single in a

village with its leaves and fruits, from absence of other of the same

species, becometh sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all. They

again that have many relatives who, however, are all heroic and virtuous,

live happily in the world without sorrow of any kind. Themselves powerful

and growing in prosperity and always gladdening their friends and

relatives, they live, depending on each other, like tall trees growing in

the same forest. We, however, have been forced in exile by the wicked

Dhritarashtra and his sons having escaped with difficulty, from sheer

good fortune, a fiery death. Having escaped from that fire, we are now

resting in the shade of this tree. Having already suffered so much, where

now are we to go? Ye sons of Dhritarashtra of little foresight, ye wicked

fellows, enjoy your temporary success. The gods are certainly auspicious

to you. But ye wicked wretches, ye are alive yet, only because

Yudhishthira doth not command me to take your lives. Else this very day,

filled with wrath, I would send thee, (O Duryodhana), to the regions of

Yama (Pluto) with thy children and friends and brothers, and Karna, and

(Sakuni) the son of Suvala! But what can I do, for, ye sinful wretches,

the virtuous king Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, is not yet

angry with you?'

"Having said this, Bhima of mighty arms, fired with wrath, began to

squeeze his palms, sighing deeply in affliction. Excited again with wrath

like an extinguished fire blazing up all on a sudden, Vrikodara once more

beheld his brothers sleeping on the ground like ordinary persons sleeping

in trustfulness. And Bhima said unto himself, 'I think there is some town

not far off from this forest. These all are asleep, so I will sit awake.

And this will slake their thirst after they rise refreshed from sleep.'

Saying this, Bhima sat there awake, keeping watch over his sleeping

mother and brothers.'"