Vaishampayana said: -
1. O chastiser foes, having heard these words of the intelligent monkey chief, the heroic Bhima thus spoke to him.
Bhima said: -
2. Who are your august self? For what reason you are in the shape of a monkey? It is a Kshatriya, an order next to the Brahmanas who asks you.
3. I am a descendant of Kuru, born in the Lunar dynasty, born by Kunti in her womb, a son of Pandu, begotten by Vayu, known by the name of Bhimasena.
Vaishampayana said: -
4. Hearing the words of that Kuru hero, Hanuman smiled and that son of Vayu thus spoke to the son of Vayu (Bhima).
Hanuman said: -
5. I am a monkey; I shall not grant you the passage you desire. Desist like an honest man and go back. Do not meet with destruction.
Bhima said: -
6. O monkey, I do not ask you about destruction or anything else. Give me way. Arise, do not meet with grief at my hand.
Hanuman said: -
7. I am suffering from illness, Therefore, I have no strength to rise. If you are resolved to go, then go overleaping me.
Bhima said: -
8. The attributes Supreme Soul pervades all bodies. I cannot disregard him who is knowable by only knowledge. Therefore, I cannot overleap you.
9. Had I not known him from whom all creatures have become manifest, I would have overleaped you, also this mountain, even as Hanuman did the ocean.
Hanuman said: -
10. Who is he of the name of Hanuman who leaped over the ocean. O foremost of men I ask you, relate it if you can.
Bhima said: -
11. He was my brother, excellent in all accomplishments and endued with both intelligence and strength. That handsome and foremost of monkeys is celebrated in the Ramayana.
12. The ocean extending over one hundred yoyanas was leaped over by that monkey for Rama's wife.
13. That greatly powerful hero was my brother; I am equal to him in might, strength and prowess. I am able also to chastise you.
14. Arise Therefore, give me way or witness my prowess today. If you fail to do what I say, I send you to the abode of Yama.
Vaishampayana said: -
15. Knowing him to be intoxicated and proud of his strength of arms, Hanuman slighted him (very much) in his mind and he thus spoke to him.
Hanuman said: -
16. O sinless one, be kind towards me. I have no strength to rise in consequence of old age. From pity for me go by moving aside my tail.
Vaishampayana said: -
17. Having been thus addressed by Hanuman, Bhima, proud of his own strength, thought in his mind that one (Hanuman) to be destitute of energy and prowess.
18. He thought, “Taking fast hold of his tale I will send this monkey destitute of energy and prowess to the abode of Yama.”
19. Therefore, with a smile, Bhima carelessly took hold of the tail with his left hand, but he could not move that tail of the mighty monkey.
20. Then with both arms he pulled the tail resembling the (sacrificial) pole raised up in honour of Indra. But the mighty Bhima failed to raise the tail with both his arms.
21. His eyes were contracted up and his eye falls rolled, his face was contracted into wrinkles and his body was covered with sweat but still he failed to raise it.
22. When he failed to raise it after many attempts, the illustrious Bhima came to the side of the monkey and stood before him in great shame.
23. That son of Kunti bowing down his head and joining his two hands, thus spoke to him, “O foremost of monkeys, be kind towards me. Forgive my harsh words.
24. Are you a Siddha, a celestial, a Gandharva or a Guhaka, I ask you in curiosity. Who are you in the shape of a monkey?
25. O mighty armed hero (tell me) if it is not a secret and if I deserve to hear it. O sinless one, I seek your refuge and ask you as a disciple.
Hanuman said: -
26. O chastiser of foes, as you are curious to know all about me, I shall narrate to you all. O son of Pandu, listen to it.
27. O lotus eyed hero, I am born in the womb of Kesari, begotten by Vayu who is the life of the universe. I am the monkey, named Hanumana.
28-29. O chastiser of foes, all the mighty monkey chiefs waited upon that son of the sun, Sugriva and that son of Indra, Bali. Friendship between Sugriva and myself was like that between the wind and the fire.
30. For some cause, Sugriva was driven out by his brother and lived for a long time with me at the Hrishvamukha.
31. Once upon a time, the greatly powerful son of Dasharatha by name Rama who was Vishnu in human form wandered over the earth.
32. In order to please his father, he with his wife and brother, armed with the best of bows, resided in the Dandaka forest.
33-34. O sinless one, his wife was carried away by force and by stratagem from Janasthana by the mighty lord of the Rakshasas, the wicked minded Ravana deceiving that foremost of men through the Rakshasa Maricha who assumed the form of a deer marked with gems and golden spots.
Thus ends the hundred and forty-seventh chapter, colloquy between Bhima and Hanuman, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.