SECTION –CLIV
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
Vaisampayana said, "Then, O best of the
Bharatas, Bhima began to collect those rare unearthly, variegated and fresh
flowers in abundance.
"And it came to pass that a high and violent
wind, piercing to the touch, and blowing about gravels, arose, portending
battle. And frightful meteors began to shoot, with thundering sounds. And being
enveloped by darkness, the sun became pale, his rays being obscured. And on
Bhima displaying his prowess, dreadful sounds of explosion rang through the
sky. And the earth began to tremble, and dust fell in showers. And the points
of the heavens became reddened. And beasts and birds began to cry in shrill
tones. And every thing became enveloped in darkness; and nothing could be
distinguished. And other evil omens besides these appeared there. Witnessing
these strange phenomena, Dharma's son Yudhishthira, the foremost of speakers,
said, 'Who is it that will overcome us? Ye Pandavas who take delight in battle,
good betide you! Do ye equip yourselves. From what I see, I infer that the time
for the display of our prowess hath drawn nigh'. Having said this, the king
looked around. Then not finding Bhima, that represser of foes, Dharma's son,
Yudhishthira, enquired of Krishna and the twins standing near regarding his
brother, Bhima, the doer of dreadful deeds in battle, saying, 'O Panchali, is
Bhima intent upon performing some great feat, or hath that one delighting in
daring deeds already achieved some brave deed? Portending some great danger,
these omens have appeared all around, indicating a fearful battle.' When
Yudhishthira said this, his beloved queen, the high-minded Krishna of sweet
smiles, answered him, in order to remove his anxiety. 'O king, that Saugandhika
lotus which to-day had been brought by the wind. I had out of love duly shown
unto Bhimasena; and I had also said unto that hero, If thou canst find many of
this species, procuring even all of them, do thou return speedily,--O Pandava,
that mighty armed one, with the view of gratifying my desire, may have gone
towards the north-east to bring them.' Having heard these words of hers, the
king said unto twins, 'Let us together follow the path taken by Vrikodara. Let
the Rakshasas carry those Brahmanas that are fatigued and weak. O Ghatotkacha,
O thou like unto a celestial, do thou carry Krishna. I am convinced and it is
plain that Bhima hath dived into the forest; for it is long since he hath gone,
and in speed he resembleth the wind, and in clearing over the ground, he is
swift like unto Vinata's son, and he will ever leap into the sky, and alight at
his will. O Rakshasas, we shall follow him through your prowess. He will not at
first do any wrong to the Siddhas versed in the Vedas. O best of the Bharatas,
saying, 'So be it,' Hidimava's son and the other Rakshasas who knew the quarter
where the lotus lake of Kuvera was situated, started cheerfully with Lomasa,
bearing the Pandavas, and many of the Brahmanas. Having shortly reached that
spot, they saw that romantic lake covered with Saugandhika and other lotuses
and surrounded by beautiful woods. And on its shores they beheld the
high-souled and vehement Bhima, as also the slaughtered Yakshas of large eyes,
with their bodies, eyes, arms and thighs smashed, and their heads crushed. And
on seeing the high-souled Bhima, standing on the shore of that lake in an angry
mood, and with steadfast eyes, and biting his lip, and stationed on the shore
of the lake with his mace upraised by his two hands, like unto Yama with his
mace in his hand at the time of the universal dissolution. Yudhishthira the
just, embraced him again and again, and said in sweet words, 'O Kaunteya, what
hast thou done? Good betide thee! If thou wishest to do good unto me, thou
shouldst never again commit such a rash act, nor offend the gods.' Having thus
instructed the son of Kunti, and taken the flowers those god-like ones began to
sport in that very lake. At this instant, the huge-bodied warders of the
gardens, equipped with rocks for weapons, presented themselves at the spot. And
seeing Yudhishthira the just and the great sage Lomasa and Nakula and Sahadeva
and also the other foremost of Brahmanas, they all bowed themselves down in
humility. And being pacified by Yudhishthira the just, the Rakshasas became
satisfied. And with the knowledge of Kuvera, those foremost of Kurus for a
short time dwelt pleasantly at that spot on the slopes of the Gandhamadana,
expecting Arjuna."
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