जतुगृह पर्व — भीमको पानी ल्याउनु

Vaishampayana said : By the force of that mighty (heroes') breast, the forest with its trees and their branches appeared to tremble,

The motion of his thighs raised a wind like that of the month of Jyeshtha and Asharda. The greatly strong (Bhima) made a road for himself by treading down the trees and creepers.

He proceeded on, breaking the kings of the forest (big trees) and the plants with their flowers and fruits that stood on his way.

Thus breaking large trees angrily goes through the forest the leader of a hard of elephants of sixty years of age, the liquid juice (at the season of rut) trickling down the three parts of his body.

So great was the force with which Bhima, endued with the speed of Garuda or Maruta, proceeded that the Pandavas seemed to be fainted.

By the strength of his arms, he swam across many streams difficult to be crossed; and they (the Pandavas) disguised themselves from the fear of the sons of Dhritarashtra.

He carried his delicate and illustrious mother on his back over even and uneven grounds on the banks of rivers.

O best of the Bharata race, in the evening he reached a fearful forest where fruits and roots and water were scarce and (which was) full of terrible roars of birds and beasts.

The twilight became fearfully bark and (the roars of) birds and beasts (grew) fiercer. All sides became invisible, (being covered with darkness).

A strong wind began to blow. It broke and laid low many large and small trees and many creepers with fruits and dry leaves.

Those descendants of Kuru (the Pandavas), afflicted with fatigue and thirst and heavy with sleep, were unable to proceed further.

They then sat down in that great forest without food or water and Kunti, afflicted with thirst, then spoke thus to her sons-

"I am the mother of the five Pandavas though I am now in their midst, yet I am burning in thirst!” She repeatedly said this to her sons.

Having heard this, Bhimasena's heart was warmed with compassion from the affection (he bore) for his mother and he began to proceed again.

Then Bhima, entering a large fearful and terrible forest, saw a beautiful banian tree with wide spreading branches.

Placing them all there (under the tree) that best of the Bharata race, (Bhima) said, “O lord, rest here; I shall go to bring water.

I hear the sweet notes of the water fowl Sarashas. I think there must be a big lake (somewhere here)."

O descendant of Bharata, commanded by his eldest brother who said, "Go," he went there where the aquatic Sarasas were.

O best of the Bharata race, affectionate to his brothers he want for the sake of his bothers. He drank water and bathed there in that lake; he brought water for them by soaking his upper garment.

O descendant of Bharata, retracing his way with all speed, over four miles he came to his mother and began to sigh like a snake in sorrow and grief.

Seeing his mother and brothers asleep on the ground, Vrikodara was greatly afflicted with grief and lamented thus-

ever "Alas! what more painful sight can I see then what I see now, my brothers sleeping on the ground! O unfortunate am I!

They who could not formerly sleep at Varanavata on the softest and costliest bed are now asleep on the bare ground!

The sister of that chastiser of foes, Vasudeva, the daughter of the king of Kunti (Bhoja), Kunti, endued with all auspicious marks. The daughter-in-law of Vichitravirya and the wife of the illustrious Pandu and the mother of us (the Pandavas), resplendent as the filament of lotus. Delicate and tender, fit to sleep on the costliest beds, is now asleep as she could never do not the bare ground!

She, who has given birth to these sons by Dharma, Indra, Maruta; and who has ever slept in palaces, is now asleep on the ground from fatigue!

What more painful sight shall I ever see than what I see (now) the best of men (the Pandavas) sleeping on the (bare) ground!

The ever virtuous (Yudhisthira) who deserves to be the king of the three worlds, now sleeps on the ground, fatigued and tired like on ordinary being.

(Arjuna) of the colour of the blue ocean who is matchless among men sleeps on the ground like ordinary mortals. What could be more painful then this!

The twins, who are handsome as the Asvinis among the celestial, are asleep on the ground like ordinary men!

He who has no jealous and wicked minded relatives lives like a single tree in a village.

Where there is only one tree full of leaves and fruits in a village, it became sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all.

They, who have many relatives, who are heroic and virtuous, live happily in this world without any sorrow of any kind.

Being powerful, growing in prosperity and making their friends and relatives happy, they live depending on one another like the trees of the forest.

We are banished by the wicked minded Dhritarashtra and his sons and we escaped for our good fortune from a fiery death.

Having escaped from that fire, we are now resting under this tree. Having suffering great afflictions, where are we now to go?

O fore sightless sons of Dhritarashtra, O wicked men, enjoy your success. The gods are certainly favourable to you. Because Yudhisthira does not order me, (to kill you) therefore, O wretched men, live till then. Else angry as I am, I would have even this very day sent you (Duryodhana) with your sons and ministers and with Karna and the son of Subala (Sakuni) to the land of the dead. What can I do, so long the king (Yudhisthira) is not angry. O vicious men, the eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhisthira, is a virtuous minded man." Having said this, the mighty armed (Bhima), his mind inflamed with wrath. Squeezed his palms and sighed with a sorrowful mind. Like an extinguished fire blazed up, again in sorrowful mind. Vrikodara saw his brothers sleeping like ordinary men in trustfulness on the ground.

Then Bhima thought, “I think there are some towns not far off from this forest. We ought to remain awake here. But they are all asleep therefore, I myself will sit awake. When they will rise after having been refreshed by sleep, then they will quince their thirst.” having resolved this, Bhima said awake.