Chapter 145

Vaisampayana said, “There observing cleanliness, those tigers among mendwelt for six nights, in expectation of beholding Dhananjaya. And it cameto pass that all of a sudden there blew a wind from the north-east andbrought a celestial lotus of a thousand petals and effulgent as the sun.And Panchali saw that pure and charming lotus of unearthly fragrance,brought by the wind and left on the ground. And having obtained thatexcellent and beautiful lotus, that blessed one became exceedinglydelighted, O king, and addressed Bhimasena in the following words,’Behold, O Bhima, this most beautiful unearthly flower having within itthe very source of fragrance. It gladdenth my heart, O represser of foes.This one shall be presented to Yudhishthira the just. Do thou, therefore,procure others for my satisfaction–in order that I may carry them to ourhermitage in the Kamyaka. If, O Pritha’s son, I have found grace withthee, do thou then procure others of this species in large numbers. Iwish to carry them to our hermitage.’ Having said this, the blamelesslady of beautiful glances approached Yudhishthira the just, taking theflower. And knowing the desire of his beloved queen that bull among men,Bhima of great strength, also set out, in order to gratify her. Andintent upon fetching the flowers, he began to proceed at rapid space,facing the wind, in the direction from which the flower had come. Andtaking the bow inlaid with gold on the back as also arrows like untovenomous snakes, he proceeded as a lion in anger or an elephant in rut.And all beings gazed at him, holding a mighty bow and arrows. And neitherexhaustion, nor langour, neither fear nor confusion, ever possessed theson of Pritha and the offspring of Vayu (wind). And desirous of pleasingDraupadi the mighty one, free from fear or confusion, ascended the peakdepending on the strength of his arms. And that slayer of foes began torange that beautiful peak covered with trees, creepers and of black rockybase; and frequented by Kinnaras; and variegated with minerals, plants,beasts, and birds of various hues; and appearing like an upraised arm ofthe Earth adorned with an entire set of ornaments. And that one ofmatchless prowess proceeded, fixing his look at the slopes of theGandhamadana,–beautiful with flowers of every season–and revolvingvarious thoughts in his mind and with his ears, eyes and mind rivetted tothe spots resounding with the notes of male kokilas and ringing with thehum of black bees. And like an elephant in rut ranging mad in a forestthat one of mighty prowess smelt the rare odour proceeding from theflowers of every season. And he was fanned by the fresh breeze of theGandhamadana bearing the perfumes of various blossoms and cooling likeunto a father’s touch. On his fatigue being removed the down on his bodystood on end. And in this state that represser of foes for the flowersbegan to survey all the mountain, inhabited by Yakshas and Gandharvas andcelestials and Brahmarshis. And brushed by the leaves of Saptachchadatree, besmeared with fresh red, black and white minerals, he looked as ifdecorated with lines of holy unguents drawn by fingers. And with cloudsstretching at its sides, the mountain seemed dancing with outspreadwings. And on account of the trickling waters of springs, it appeared tobe decked with necklaces of pearls. And it contained romantic caverns andgroves and cascades and caves. And there were excellent peacocks dancingto the jingling of the bangles of the Apsaras. And its rocky surface wasworn away by the end of tusks of the elephants presiding over thecardinal points. And with the waters of rivers falling down, the mountainlooked as if its clothes were getting loosened. And that graceful son ofthe wind-god playfully and cheerfully went on, pushing away by his forcecountless intertwisted creepers. And stags in curiosity gazed at him,with grass in their mouths. And not having experienced fear (everbefore), they were unalarmed, and did not flee away. And being engaged infulfilling the desire of his love, the youthful son of Pandu, stalwartand of splendour like unto the hue of gold; and having a body strong as alion; and treading like a mad elephant; and possessing the force of a madelephant; and having coppery eyes like unto those of a mad elephant; andcapable of checking a mad elephant began to range the romantic sides ofthe Gandhamadana with his beautiful eyes uplifted; and displaying as itwere a novel type of beauty. And the wives of Yakshas and Gandharvassitting invisible by the side of their husbands, stared at him, turningtheir faces with various motions. Intent upon gratifying Draupadi exiledunto the woods, as he was ranging the beautiful Gandhamadana, heremembered the many and various woes caused by Duryodhana. And hethought, ‘Now that Arjuna sojourn in heaven and that I too have come awayto procure the flowers, what will our brother Yudhishthira do at present?Surely, from affection and doubting their prowess, that foremost of men,Yudhishthira, will not let Nakula and Sahadeva come in search of us. How,again, can I obtain the flowers soon?’ Thinking thus, that tiger amongmen proceeded in amain like unto the king of birds, his mind and sightfixed on the delightful side of the mountain. And having for hisprovisions on the journey the words of Draupadi, the mighty son of Pandu,Vrikodara Bhima, endued with strength and the swiftness of the wind, withhis mind and sight fixed on the blooming slopes of the mountain,proceeded speedily, making the earth tremble with his tread, even as dotha hurricane at the equinox; and frightening herds of elephants andgrinding lions and tigers and deer and uprooting and smashing large treesand tearing away by force plants and creepers, like unto an elephantascending higher and higher the summit of a mountain; and roaringfiercely even as a cloud attended with thunder. And awakened by thatmighty roaring of Bhima, tigers came out of their dens, while otherrangers of the forest hid themselves. And the coursers of the skiessprang up (on their wing) in fright. And herds of deer hurriedly ranaway. And birds left the trees (and fled). And lions forsook their dens.And the mighty lions were roused from their slumber. And the buffaloesstared. And the elephants in fright, leaving that wood, ran to moreextensive forests company with their mates. And the boars and the deerand the lions and the buffaloes and the tigers and the jackals and thegavayas of the wood began to cry in herds. And the ruddy geese, and thegallinules and the ducks and the karandavas and the plavas and theparrots and the male kokilas and the herons in confusion flew in alldirections, while some proud elephants urged by their mates, as also somelions and elephants in rage, flew at Bhimasena. And as they weredistracted at heart through fear, these fierce animals discharging urineand dung, set up loud yells with gapping mouths. Thereupon theillustrious and graceful son of the wind-god, the mighty Pandava,depending upon the strength of his arms, began to slay one elephant withanother elephant and one lion with another lion while he despatched theothers with slaps. And on being struck by Bhima the lions and the tigersand the leopards, in fright gave loud cries and discharged urine anddung. And after having destroyed these the handsome son of Pandu,possessed of mighty strength, entered into the forest, making all sidesresound with his shouts. And then the long-armed one saw on the slopes ofthe Gandhamadana a beautiful plantain tree spreading over many a yojana.And like unto a mad lion, that one of great strength proceeded amaintowards that tree breaking down various plants. And that foremost ofstrong persons–Bhima–uprooting innumerable plantain trunks equal inheight to many palm-trees (placed one above another), cast them on allsides with force. And that highly powerful one, haughty like a male lion,sent up shouts. And then he encountered countless beasts of giganticsize, and stags, and monkeys, and lions, and buffaloes, and aquaticanimals. And what with the cries of these, and what with the shouts ofBhima, even the beasts and birds that were at distant parts of the wood,became all frightened. And hearing those cries of beasts and birds,myriads of aquatic fowls suddenly rose up on wetted wings. And seeingthese fowls of water, that bull among the Bharatas proceeded in thatdirection; and saw a vast and romantic lake. And that fathomless lakewas, as it were, being fanned by the golden plantain trees on the coast,shaken by the soft breezes. And immediately descending into the lakeabounding in lilies and lotuses, he began to sport lustily like unto amighty maddened elephant. Having thus sported there for a long while, heof immeasurable effulgence ascended, in order to penetrate with speedinto that forest filled with trees. Then the Pandava winded with all hismight his loud-blowing shell. And striking his arms with his hands, themighty Bhima made all the points of heaven resound. And filled with thesounds of the shell, and with the shouts of Bhimasena, and also with thereports produced by the striking of his arms, the caves of the mountainseemed as if they were roaring. And hearing those loud arm-strokes, likeunto the crashing of thunder, the lions that were slumbering in thecaves, uttered mighty howls. And being terrified by the yelling of thelions, the elephants, O Bharata, sent forth tremendous roars, whichfilled the mountain. And hearing those sounds emitted, and knowing alsoBhimasena to be his brother, the ape Hanuman, the chief of monkeys, withthe view of doing good to Bhima, obstructed the path leading to heaven.And thinking that he (Bhima) should not pass that way,(Hanuman) layacross the narrow path, beautified by plantain trees, obstructing it forthe sake of the safety of Bhima. With the object that Bhima might notcome by curse or defeat, by entering into the plantain wood, the apeHanuman of huge body lay down amidst the plantain trees, being overcomewith drowsiness. And he began to yawn, lashing his long tail, raised likeunto the pole consecrated to Indra, and sounding like thunder. And on allsides round, the mountains by the mouths of caves emitted those sounds inecho, like a cow lowing. And as it was being shaken by the reportsproduced by the lashing of the tail, the mountain with its summitstottering, began to crumble all around. And overcoming that roaring ofmad elephants, the sounds of his tail spread over the varied slopes ofthe mountain.

“On those sounds being heard the down of Bhima’s body stood on end; andhe began to range that plantain wood, in search of those sounds. And thatone of mighty arms saw the monkey-chief in the plantain wood, on anelevated rocky base. And he was hard to be looked at even as thelightning-flash; and of coppery hue like that of the lightning-flash: andendued with the voice of the lightning-flash; and quick moving as thelightning-flash; and having his short flesh neck supported on hisshoulders; and with his waist slender in consequence of the fullness ofhis shoulders. And his tail covered with long hair, and a little bent atthe end, was raised like unto a banner. And (Bhima) saw Hanuman’s headfurnished with small lips, and coppery face and tongue, and red ears, andbrisk eyes, and bare white incisors sharpened at the edge.’ And his headwas like unto the shining moon; adorned with white teeth within themouth; and with mane scattered over, resembling a heap of asoka flowers.And amidst the golden plantain trees, that one of exceeding effulgencewas lying like unto a blazing fire, with his radiant body. And thatslayer of foes as casting glances with his eyes reddened withintoxication. And the intelligent Bhima saw that mighty chief of monkeys,of huge body, lying like unto the Himalaya, obstructing the path ofheaven. And seeing him alone in that mighty forest, the undauntedathletic Bhima, of long arms, approached him with rapid strides, anduttered a loud shout like unto the thunder. And at that shout of Bhima,beasts and birds became all alarmed. The powerful Hanuman, however,opening his eyes partially looked at him (Bhima) with disregard, witheyes reddened with intoxication. And then smilingly addressing him,Hanuman said the following words, ‘Ill as I am, I was sleeping sweetly.Why hast thou awakened me? Thou shouldst show kindness to all creatures,as thou hast reason. Belonging to the animal species, we are ignorant ofvirtue. But being endued with reason, men show kindness towardscreatures. Why do then reasonable persons like thee commit themselves toacts contaminating alike body, speech, and heart, and destructive ofvirtue? Thou knowest not what virtue is, neither hast thou taken councilof the wise. And therefore it is that from ignorance, and childishnessthou destroyest the lower animals. Say, who art thou, and what for hastthou come to the forest devoid of humanity and human beings? And, Oforemost of men, tell thou also, whither thou wilt go to-day. Further itis impossible to proceed. Yonder hills are inaccessible. O hero, save thepassage obtained by the practice of asceticism, there is no passage tothat place. This is the path of the celestials; it is ever impassable bymortals. Out of kindness, O hero, do I dissuade thee. Do thou hearkenunto my words. Thou canst not proceed further from this place. Therefore,O lord, do thou desist. O chief of men, to-day in very way thou artwelcome to this place. If thou think it proper to accept my words, dothou then, O best of men, rest here, partaking of fruits and roots, sweetas ambrosia, and do not have thyself destroyed for naught.”