Vaishampayana said: -
1. The energetic Bhimasena being thus overpowered by the serpent began to ponder on the mighty and wonderful strength of the snake.
2. And he said to that mighty snake “O best of serpents, O snake, kindly tell me who you are and what you will do with me.
3. I am the Pandava, Bhimasena and the younger brother to Dharmaraja. How is it that I, who am possessed of the strength of ten thousand elephants, have been brought under your power?
4. I have in battle slain countless lions, lions having manes, tigers, buffaloes and elephants all assembled together.
5. O excellent of serpents, even the exceedingly powerful Rakshasas, Pishachas and Pannagas cannot endure the force of my arms.
6. Is it my virtue of any science or by that of any boon conferred on you that you have been able to overpower me inspite of my exertions?
7. Now it appears to my mind that the strength of men is fruitless, since, O serpent, you have overmastered my great strength.”
8. When the heroic Bhima of great achievements was saying all this, the serpent seized him and coiled him all round with its gigantic body.
9. Having thus overpowered that one of mighty arms and then liberated his plump hands the serpent said these words.
10. O mighty armed being, I have been hungry for a long time. It is to my good fortune, therefore, that you have been today, destined by the god for my food; for life is dear to all corporeal beings.
11. O tormentor of foes, it should be surely narrated by me today how have I worn this snake-shape. Listen, O virtuous being.
12. I have been brought down to this state on account of the anger of the Maharshis, now desirous of expiating the curse I shall relate to you all about it.
13. It is known (to everybody) that there was a royal sage, named Nahusha and you too, no doubt, have heard of him. He was the ancestor of your forefathers, the son of Ayu and the perpetuator of his race.
14. I am he. Owing to my disregard for the Brahmanas I have fallen into this plight by the curse of Agastya. Now behold my fated wretchedness.
15. Though you are my descendant, exceedingly handsome and therefore should not be killed by me, yet I will eat you up today.
16. O the best of mortals, whether it be a cow or a buffalo, whatever comes within my reach during the sixth part of the day, cannot escape (from me).
17. O the best of the Kurus, you have been overpowered not by the strength of an animal of a lower order, but by virtue of the boon that it received.
18. When I was rapidly falling (down on earth) from the throne of Shakra, placed in front of the palace, I besought the divine and excellent sage (Agastya) to free me from the curse.
19. (At which) that energetic sage, filled with pity, replied to me “you will get rid of it after the expiration some time.”
20. I then fell down to the earth, but my memory did not fail me. Therefore, do I still remember the past, however ancient it might be.
21. That sage (Agastya) told me also however conversant with the relation subsisting between the soul and the Supreme being shall be able to answer your questions shall free you, from the curse.
22. And, O king, beings stronger than yourself if seized by you, shall instantly lose their strength.”
23. I heard all these words of those kind-hearted sages who conceived an attachment towards me. (And) those twice-born ones then vanished.
24. (Thenceforth) I, who had committed numerous reprehensible acts, having become a serpent, O highly resplendent being, have been dwelling in filthy hell (anxiously) awaiting (the time of the expiration of my curse).
25. Then the mighty-armed Bhimasena said to the snake “O highly-energetic creature, I am neither angry nor do I blame myself.
26. Because man has sometimes the power of and sometimes becomes powerless in bringing or destroying happiness or sorrow. None should on that account, distress his mind.
27. Who can rise superior to Destiny by self-exertion? I think Destiny is supreme and self-exertion fruitless.
28. For, behold, struck by (the perversity of) Destiny I have today lost the strength of my arms and been reduced to this condition for no evident cause.
29. But this day I do not so much grieve for my death as for my brothers, who have been driven from their kingdom into exile in the forest.
30. This Himalayan (mountain) is inaccessible and full of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas. Mere looking about for me they will be dejected and crest fallen.
31. Hearing of my death they will give up all exertions (for the recovery of their kingdom). (For), it was I, who, eager for the recovery of our kingdom, incited those pious ones, by harsh words (to make exertions to regain it),
32. Or, (it may be) that Arjuna (alone) will not grieve (for me); because he is intelligent, versed in (the science of) all weapons and unconquerable by the gods, the Gandharvas and the Rakshasas.
33-34. Not to speak of the son of Dhritarashtra, that deceitful gambler, despised by all men and full of arrogance and ignorance, he (Arjuna) of mighty arms and endued with exceeding prowess is alone no doubt, capable of tearing the lord of the celestials from his throne.
35. And I mourn for my poor mother fond of her children, who is always desirous of our greatness superior to that ever attained by our enemies.
36. And, O serpent, will all the hopes and desires that helpless woman has in me prove fruitless on account of my death?
37. And the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, ever proud of (my) manliness and always protected by the prowess of my arms and who ever follow (me) their lord.
38. Will, at my death, be dispirited, deprived of strength and energy and smitten with sorrow. This is what I think of now.”
39. In this strain Vrikodara gave vent to his grief profusely. But being coiled by the body of the snake could not make any exertions (to extricate himself from its folds).
40. On the other hand, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, beholding and thinking of terrible ill omens became uneasy.
41. Alarmed at beholding the points all ablaze, Jackals, stationing themselves in the right of that hermitage, began to send forth dreadful and inauspicious howls.
42. And facing the sun, the ugly and dreadful-looking Vartika, having only one leg, one eye and one wing, was seen to vomit blood.
43. And drawing in (volumes of) grifts the wind began to blow dryly and furiously. In the right all the birds and beasts began to bewail.
44. And at the back the black-crows cried “go, go.” And his (Yudhishthira's) right hand began to tremble constantly;
45. And his heart and left leg began to twitch and his left eye auguring evils, began to contract.
46. And, O Bharata, the intelligent Dharmaraja apprehending some imminent danger asked Draupadi “where is Bhima”?
47. The daughter of Panchala answered “Vrikodara has been long out.” Then he of mighty arms, accompanied by Dhaumya left (the place).
48. After having given instructions to Dhananjaya for the protection of Draupadi and having directed Nakula and Sahadeva to take care of the Brahmanas.
49. Then the royal son of Kunti left that hermitage and tracing his (Bhima's) foot prints began to search about for Bhimasena in that mighty forest.
50. In the west he found many powerful leaders of elephant (killed) and saw the ground impressed with Bhima's (foot) prints.
51. Then beholding many thousands of deer and hundreds of lions lying (dead) in that forest, the king became aware of his (Bhima's) route.
52. And he beholds numerous trees broken by the wind, caused by Bhima's thighs, lying scattered on the way as that hero of fleet as the wind pursued the game.
53. And following those marks he arrived at a brackish inaccessible, rough and dangerous place full of dry winds and leafless trees, covered with thorny plants and abounding in gravels, stumps and bushes: and there in a mountain cave he discovered his younger brother (lying) stupefied in the folds of that best of snakes.
Thus ends the hundred and seventy-ninth chapter, the discovery of Bhima by Yudhisthira, in the Ajagara of the Vana Parva.