Tirthayatra Parva — Bhima's entering plantain forest

Vaishampayana said : There lived those foremost of men, those heroes, for six nights, leading a highly pure life with the expectation of seeing Dhananjaya (Arjuna).

Then there blew a wind from the north-east at pleasure and it brought a celestials and sunlike lotus with one thousand petals.

The Panchala princess saw that pure and charming lotus of celestials fragrance lying on the ground being brought by the wind.

O king, having obtained that excellent, fragrant and blessed lotus, that blessed lady became very much delighted and she thus spoke to Bhimasena.

Draupadi said: "O Bhima, behold this beautiful and excellent celestials flower, it has gladdened my heart by its sweet fragrance.

O chastiser of foes, I shall give it to Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira). Procure others (like it) for my satisfaction, so that I may take them to our hermitage in the Kamayaka.

O son of Pritha, if I am your beloved, then procure others (like it) in large numbers, for I desire to take them to our hermitage in the Kamyaka (forest).”

Having said this to Bhimasena, that faultless lady of beautiful eyes took the flower and went to Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira).

Knowing the desire of their queen (Draupadi), that foremost of men, the greatly strong Bhima, set out, so that he might gratify the desire of the beloved one.

Eager to fetch the flowers, he proceeded at a very rapid pace facing the wind, in the direction from which the lotus had come.

Taking the bow in laid with gold and also arrows resembling poisonous snakes, he proceeded like a lion in rage or an elephant in rut.

All creatures stared at that wielder of the great bow and arrows. Neither exhaustion, nor languor, nor fear, nor confusion.

Ever took possession of that son of Pritha and of Vayu (wind). Desiring to please Draupadi, that hero of great strength of arms,

That mighty one, free from fear or exhaustion, began to ascend the mountain. That slayer of foes roamed over that beautiful place adorned with trees, creepers and shrubs and paved with black stone and frequented by the Kinnaras. With various minerals, plants, beasts and birds and many colours,

It appeared like an upraised arm of the earth adorned with all ornaments. That hero of matchless prowess, fixing his look at the slopes of the Gandhamadana, adorned with the flowers of every season and revolving various thoughts in his mind and with his ears, eyes and mind riveted to the spots resounding with the notes of male Kokilas and ringing with the hum of black bees, like an elephant in rut roving mad in the forest, smelt the excellent fragrance proceeding from the flowers of all seasons. He was fanned by the fresh breeze of the Gandhamadana, full of fragrance of various flowers and as cooling as a feather touch. On his fatigue being removed, the down on his body stood on end.

That chastiser of foes sought for the flowers all over the mountain, frequented by the Yakshas, the Gandharvas, the celestials and the Brahmanas Rishis.

Being brushed by Saptachada tree and besmeared in red, black and white minerals, he looked decorated with the lines of holy unguents drawn by fingers. The mountain with clouds stretching at its sides looked as if it was dancing with outspread wings.

On account of the trickling of the waters of the springs, it appeared to be adorned with necklaces of pearls. It contained romantic caverns, groves, cascades and caves.

There were innumerable beautiful peacocks dancing to the tinkling of the bangles on the arms of Apsaras. The rocky surface of the mountains had been worn away by (the continual brushing of) the tusks of great elephants.

With the waters of the streamlets falling down, the mountain looked as if its clothes were getting loosened. That handsome son of Vayu (wind) playfully and cheerfully went on, pushing away innumerable entwining creepers. The stags stared at him in curiosity with grass in their mouth; and as they never knew what fear was, they were not frightened and they did not run away. Eager to fulfill the desire of his beloved, that hero of beautiful eyes,

That youth, of the splendour like the color of the gold, having a body as strong as that of the lion, treading like a mad elephant and possessing the prowess of a mad elephant.

Having coppery eyes like those of a mad elephant and possessing the prowess of checking a mad elephant, began to roam on the romantic sides of the Gandhamadana with two beautiful eyes uplifted and thus displaying a novel beauty. The wives of the Yakshas and the Gandharvas, sitting invisible by the side of their husbands, stared at him turning their faces and making various motions. He (then) remembered the various woes caused by Duryodhana.

Eager to do the favourite work of Draupadi exiled in the forest, he thought, "Now that Arjuna had gone to heaven and I have come away

In search of the flowers, what will Yudhishthira now do from affection; and doubting their prowess, that foremost of men Yudhishthira will not allow Nakula and Sahadeva to come in search of us. How can I obtain the flowers soon?" He thought thus.

And that foremost of men proceeded with the speed of the king of birds (Garuda), with his mind and sight fixed on the delightful sides of the mountain.

Having the words of Draupadi as his provisions for the journey, Bhima went with greater speed, shaking the earth with his tread as does a hurricane.

Frightening the herds of elephants, the lions, tigers and deer, uprooting and crushing large trees, forcibly tearing plants and creepers like an elephant ascending higher and higher the summit of a mountain.

He roared fearfully as does the clouds surcharged with lightning. Awakened by the loud roaring of Bhima,

Tigers came out of their dens while other wild animals hid themselves in their own. The birds flew away in alarm and herds of deer ran (in all directions).

Birds left the trees, tigers forsook their dens, the mighty lions were roused from their slumber and the buffaloes stared,

The elephants in great alarm surrounded by the female elephants felt that forest and ran to more extensive ones.

The boars, the deer, the lions, the buffaloes, the tigers, the jackals and the Gavyas and all other wild animals in herds began to cry.

The ruddy goose, the Yallendulas, the ducks, the kapandavas, the plavas, the parrots, the male kokilas and the herons all flew in confusion in all directions.

Some proud elephants, urged by female elephants and also some lions and tigers in great anger rushed at Bhimasena.

As they were bewildered with fear, these fearful animals discharge urine and dung and set up loud yells with gaping mouths.

Thereupon the illustrious and the handsome son of Vayu, the mighty Pandava, depending on his own strength of arms, began to kill in anger one elephant with another elephant and one lion with another lion. He killed others (smaller animals) with slaps. Being thus killed by Bhima, the lions, the tigers, the leopards,

Loudly cried and discharged urine and dung in great fear. The handsome son of Pandu, the mighty armed hero, entered into that forest resounding all sides with his shouts. The mighty armed hero then saw on the slopes of the Gandhamadana.

A charming forest of plantain trees extending to many yojanas. The greatly powerful hero, agitating (the forest), went with great speed towards it.

Like a large elephant breaking many trees and uprooting innumerable plantain trees as high as many palm trees put one upon the other.

That foremost of all strong men Bhima threw them on all sides; that greatly powerful hero, as proud as a lion, sent up loud shouts.

Then he met with innumerable huge animals, deer, monkeys, lions, buffaloes and also aquatic animals.

With the roarings of these (animals), as well as with the shouts of Bhima, the wild animals living in distant forests were also alarmed.

Having heard this noise of the beasts and birds, thousands of aquatic fowls suddenly rose into air. That foremost of the Bharata race (Bhima), then went in that direction. He then saw a vast and romantic lake.

That fathomless lake was being fanned by the golden plantain trees on its banks, which were slowly shaken by the soft breeze.

Going down to the waters of that lake adorned with innumerable lotuses and lilies, that greatly powerful hero sported merrily there like a mighty elephant in rut.

Having sported there for a long while, that immeasurably effulgent hero got up in order to enter quickly into the forest abounding in trees.

Then the Pandava (Bhima) sounded with all his might his loud-blowing conch. Striking his arms with his arms, the mighty Bhima made all the points of heaven resound.

Filled with the sounds of the conch and with the shouts of Bhimasena and also with the sounds made by the striking of his arms, the caves of the mountains seemed roaring.

Hearing those loud striking of his arms resembling the roaring of thunder, the lions sleeping in their caves (awoke and) uttered great howls.

O descendant of Bharata, being frightened by the yelling of the lions, the elephants also sent forth tremendous roars which filled the mountain.

Having heard these loud sounds and known that Bhimasena was his brother, the monkeychief, Hanuman, the ape.

With the desire to do good to Bhima and to secure his safety, obstructed the path to heaven. Thinking thus, he lay across the narrow path adorned with plantain trees.

With the object that the Pandava (Bhima) inight not meet with any curse or defeat by entering the plantain forest, the huge Hanuman lay down there as if overcome by drowsiness.

He began to yawn, lashing his long tail, which resembled a (sacrificial) pole consecrated to Indra and he roared like thunder.

On all sides round, the mountain echoed through the mouths of its caves. Those sounds were like the lowings of a cow.

Shaken by the sounds produced by the lashing of his tail, the mountain, with its summits, tottered and crumbled down on all sides.

Rising above the roaring of mad elephants, the sounds of the lashing of his tail spread over all the slopes of the mountain.

Having heard this noise, the down of Bhima's body stood on end. He began to roam over that plantain tree in search of the source of these sounds.

The mighty-armed hero saw the monkeychief in the plantain forest, lying on an elevated rocky base. was

He was difficult to be looked at as a flash of lightning is; he was of coppery colour; he was as quick-moving as lightning.

He had a short fleshy neck supported on his shoulders; his waist slender in consequence of the fullness of his shoulders.

His tail, covered with long hair and bent a little at the end, was raised up like a banner.

He (Bhima) saw Hanumana's head furnished with small lips, coppery face, long tongue, red ears, brisk eyes and bare white teeth sharpened at the edge.

His head was like the shining moon with hair scattered over, resembling a heap of Ashoka flowers. That greatly effulgent one was lying amidst the golden palm trees.

Looking like a blazing fire with his effulgent body. That chastiser of foes was casting glances with his eyes reddened with intoxication.

The intelligent Bhima saw that mighty and huge monkey-chief lying like a second Himalayas obstructing the path of heaven. Seeing him alone in that great forest the undaunted, the mighty-armed and the greatly strong Bhima, quickly came to him and uttered a loud lion-like roar. At his that loud roar, beasts and birds were terrified.

The greatly powerful Hanuman opened his eyes but partially and looked at him with thorough disregard with eyes reddened with intoxication. Then smilingly addressing him, he thus spoke to him.

Hanuman said: Why have you awakened me, ill as I am? I was comfortably asleep. As you have reason, you should certainly show kindness to all creatures.

Being born in the animal kingdom we do not know what Dharma is. But men having reason show kindness to all animals.

Why do then men like your august self commit acts that are harmful alike to body, speech and heart and which are also destructive of virtue.

You know not what virtue is. You have not taken advice from the wise men. You have but little sense and therefore from childishness you destroy lower animals.

Tell me who you are. Why have you come to the forest devoid of humanity and human beings?

O foremost of men, tell me also where you intend to go today. It is impossible to go any further; the yonder mountain is inaccessible.

O hero, except success in asceticism there is no other means to go to that place. This is the way to the celestials regions. It is always impassable by men.

O hero, O lord, out of kindness I ask you, to desist. Listen to my words. Further up from this place you are not able to go. Therefore desist.

O foremost of men, you are welcome here to day in every way. If you at all accept my words, then rest here partaking of fruits and roots as sweet as ambrosia. Do not for nothing be killed.