Intro
A note of interest - Last year there as a big movie called ‘RRR’. The introduction of one of the primary characters, Bhima, is a scene drawn from this text in the Mahabharata.
P0ersonally - I find Bhima’s revelry in the forest relatable. For a time growing up I lived in the countryside. I recall with fondness a lot of time spent running through the forest. The land there was carved by glaciers in the last ice age. The effect created sharply uneven landscape so we used to jump from the top of a path onto the tops of young trees and ride them down to the bottom of the creek beds or ravine. Sometimes they broke and one would take a fall. We also would tear down dead trees by bowling them over and or climbing them and riding them down to break them off. Really takes me back in the day. I can’t say I ever went on a killing frenzy like Bhima, however. Here we see the boiling frustration of Bhima - one who loves to fight - who is not able to fight his enemies at this time of exile and consumes game in a frenzy of displace bloodlust. So Bhima trains and trains to get ready for war.
As It Rhymes
1-3.
Janamejaya said,
‘Tell me about the great snake that made Bhima quake.
What on earth could make the terrible one afraid?
In arrogance and pride Bhima blazed.
He razed yakshas and rakshasas in the lotus lake.
He yearned to fight Pulastya, so you praised.
But when Bhima met the snake he would shake like a leaf.
I am curious to hear about this grief.’
4.
Vaishampayana said,
’Great numbers of beasts dwelled in the forests of that mountain.
O’ King!
5.
By his own accord Bhima roamed wielding a bow and sword.
Delighted by the forest full of living wealth he stalked with stealth.
6.
Over mountain and ravine Bhima was determined to survey every cranny of auspicious land with bow and arrow in hand.
Such was the abundance of living wealth, Bhima felt the forests were frequented by Gandharva, Siddha and Devarshi and Apsara.
7.
Birds of paradise sang sonorous symphonies from the trees.
These were Chakora, Upachakra, Jivajivaka, Kokila, Bhringaraja and other species.
O’ King! What a sight to seize.
8.
Swollen fruits swelled on trees.
Blooming flower scented the sweet breeze.
The mind was overwhelmed with delight.
9.
Bhima meditated by a mountain stream.
The water was lapis lazuli blue like in a dream.
10.
In the forest stood great pine trees like green cloud.
Massive flocks of yellow ducks flapped and quacked real loud.
11.
Bhima found herds of yak and goats on the desert side.
Bhima hunted in a frenzy - his razor arrows left mounds of bone and hide.
12.
The famous Bhimasena killed snakes and lizards.
Bhima flexed his great strengths killing those with gizzards.
13.
Bhima’s mighty arms befell boar and buffalo.
Like a tiger Bhima stalked lion prey.
14.
Bhima hunted in a flow.
Bhima hunted all day.
Bhima did not let a single dart go astray.
15.
Bhima brought down trees.
Bhima ventured roamed a large territory by long and lat degrees.
16.
Bhima screamed from a mountain top.
The echoing yells sounded like beaten drums.
Animals panicked and trampled down the mountain side.
17.
Bhima moved with speed.
Bhima would not stop.
Bhima did not let any animal hide.
18.
Bhima burned with pride.
Bhima killed an elephant like Indra’s ride.
Bhima the Terrible had a grand time indulged in vice.
19.
Bhimasena sent frightened animals into caves and artifice.
Running in blind panic they were moving sacrifices.
20.
Bhima roamed with blood red fire.
Bhima stalked the forest floor like a wrathful tiger.
21.
Bhimasena with his great strength could not control his desire.
Bhimasena with his great strength could not tire.
22.
Bhima was in a battle frenzy.
Bhima vented frustration for his enemy on any living entity.
23.
Crossing many paths at great speed.
There Bhimasena indulged his game greed.
24.
Then Bhima saw a massive snake.
A gigantic snake that would make the great sage’s heads shake.
The snake’s body balled in giant knots.
Bhima mistook the snake for a mountain cave fort.
25.
Rain began to pour.
The snake had yellow spots.
The serpent’s eye opened, giving Bhima’s heart a start.
26.
The snake king’s mouth opened like a cave.
Its four teeth were like marks for a grave.
The snake’s tongue flicked in blazing rage.
27.
Bhima thought the Lord of Death, Yama, had come.
Bhima fell silent before the snake’s angry hissing welcome.
28-29.
The snake caught Bhima by his arms.
In a flash that snake covered Bhima’s body with scaley swarms.
Bhima felt mortal crossed over by a looping coil.
30.
Feeling the snake’s supreme strength.
Bhima could not leverage its great length.
31.
Bhima’s brilliance was restrained.
Bhima was in thrall like a rabbit enchained.
32.
The snake was endowed with a strength that could conquer a lion of valor.
Bhima soon became bewildered by the snake’s power.
33.
Bhima wriggled like a crocodile.
Bhima exerted himself to exhaustion after a while.
Bhima felt his will get sucked.
Bhima felt like a gnat stuck in mud.
Bhima could not get the snake to give any slack.
At last Bhima went black.
Notes
[1] Pulastya is a sage. Pulastya should not be fighting.
[2] Yakshas are nature spirits - usually troublesome. They often hang out with Kubera and Indra. Rakshasas are cannibals, or demons. The story of Bhima killing the rakshasas by the divine pond is told in an earlier chapter.
[6] Gandharva are celestial musicians. Devarshi are divine rishis. Apsaras are beautiful divine females that dance and often serve as Indra’s consorts.[18] Indra rides Airavata, the lord of elephants. Bhima kills a large elephant like Indra’s. Bhima’s vices are wrath and gluttony. Vrikodara is another name for Bhima - meaning wolf’s belly owing to his enormous appetite.
[26]
[31]
33]
References
- Debroy, Bibek. The Mahabharata. Penguin Random House India, 2015.
- Dutt, M.N. The Mahabharata. Sanskrit Text with English Translation. Parimal Publications, 2022.