(Jatugriha Parva continued)
" said," As the mighty proceeded, the whole forest with its trees and their branches seemed to tremble, in consequence of their clash with his breast. The motion of his thighs raised a wind like unto to that which blows during the months of Jyaishtha and Ashadha (May and June). And the mighty proceeded, making a path for himself, but treading down the trees and creepers before him. In fact, he broke (by the pressure of his body) the large trees and plants, with their flowers and fruits, standing on his way. Even so passeth passes through the woods breaking down mighty trees, the leader of a herd of elephants, of the age of sixty years, angry and endued with excess of energy, during the season of rut when the liquid juice trickle down the three parts of his body. Indeed, so great was the force with which endued with the speed of or of Marut (the ), proceeded that the Pandavas seemed to faint in consequence. Frequently swimming across streams difficult of being crossed, the Pandavas disguised themselves on their way from fear of the sons of . And carried on his shoulder his illustrious mother of delicate sensibilities along the uneven banks of rivers. Towards the evening, O bull of Bharata's race, (bearing his brothers and mother on his back) reached a terrible forest where fruits and roots and water were scarce and which resounded with the terrible cries of birds and beasts. The twilight deepened the cries of birds and beasts became fiercer, darkness shrouded everything from the view and untimely winds began to blow that broke and laid low many a tree large and small and many creepers with dry leaves and fruits. The Kaurava princes, afflicted with fatigue and thirst, and heavy with sleep, were unable to proceed further. They then all sat down in that forest without food and drink. Then , smitten with thirst, said unto to her sons, 'I am the mother of the five Pandavas and am now in their midst. Yet I am burning with thirst!' repeatedly said this unto to her sons. Hearing these words, 's heart, from affection for his mother, was warmed by compassion and he resolved to go (along as before). Then , proceeding through that terrible and extensive forest without a living soul, saw a beautiful banian tree with widespreading branches. Setting down there his brothers and mother, O bull of Bharata's race; he said unto to them, 'Rest you here, while I go in quest of water. I hear the sweet cries of aquatic fowls. I think there must be a large pool here.' Commanded, O Bharata, by his elder brother who said unto to him, 'Go', proceeded in the direction whence from where the cries of those aquatic fowls were coming. And, O bull of Bharata's race, he soon came upon a lake and bathed and slaked his thirst. And affectionate unto to his brothers, he brought for them, O Bharata, water by soaking his upper garments. Hastily retracing his way over those four miles he came unto to where his mother was and beholding her he was afflicted with sorrow and began to sigh like a snake. Distressed with grief at seeing his mother and brothers asleep on the bare ground, began to weep, 'Oh, wretch that I am, who behold my brothers asleep on the bare ground, what can befall me more painful than this? Alas, they who formerly at Varanavata could not sleep on the softest and costliest beds are now asleep on the bare ground! Oh, what more painful sight shall I ever behold than that of --the sister of , that grinder of hostile hosts--the daughter of Kuntiraja,--herself decked with every auspicious mark, the daughter-in-law of ,--the wife of the illustrious ,--the mother of us (five brothers),--resplendent as the filaments of the lotus and delicate and tender and fit to sleep on the costliest bed--thus asleep, as she should never be, on the bare ground! Oh, she who hath has brought forth these sons by and and Maruta--she who hath has ever slept within palaces--now sleepeth sleeps, fatigued, on the bare ground! What more painful sight shall ever be beheld by me than that of these tigers among men (my brothers) asleep on the ground! Oh, the virtuous , who deserveth deserves the sovereignty of the three worlds, sleepeth sleeps, fatigued, like an ordinary man, on the bare ground! This of the darkish hue of blue clouds, and unequalled amongst men sleepeth sleeps on the ground like an ordinary person! Oh, what can be more painful than this? Oh the twins, who in beauty are like the twin Aswins amongst the celestials, are asleep like ordinary mortals on the bare ground! He who hath has no jealous evil-minded relatives, liveth lives in happiness in this world like a single tree in a village. The tree that standeth stands single in a village with its leaves and fruits, from absence of other of the same species, becometh becomes sacred and is worshipped and venerated by all. They again that have many relatives who, however, are all heroic and virtuous, live happily in the world without sorrow of any kind. Themselves powerful and growing in prosperity and always gladdening their friends and relatives, they live, depending on each other, like tall trees growing in the same forest. We, however, have been forced in exile by the wicked and his sons having escaped with difficulty, from sheer good fortune, a fiery death. Having escaped from that fire, we are now resting in the shade of this tree. Having already suffered so much, where now are we to go? Ye you sons of of little foresight, ye you wicked fellows, enjoy your temporary success. The gods are certainly auspicious to you. But ye you wicked wretches, ye you are alive yet, only because doth does not command me to take your lives. Else this very day, filled with wrath, I would send thee you, (O ), to the regions of (Pluto) with thy your children and friends and brothers, and , and () the son of Suvala! But what can I do, for, ye you sinful wretches, the virtuous king , the eldest of the Pandavas, is not yet angry with you?'
"Having said this, of mighty arms, fired with wrath, began to squeeze his palms, sighing deeply in affliction. Excited again with wrath like an extinguished fire blazing up all on a sudden, once more beheld his brothers sleeping on the ground like ordinary persons sleeping in trustfulness. And said unto to himself, 'I think there is some town not far off from this forest. These all are asleep, so I will sit awake. And this will slake their thirst after they rise refreshed from sleep.' Saying this, sat there awake, keeping watch over his sleeping mother and brothers.'"
(-vadha Parva)
" said, 'Not far from the place where the Pandavas were asleep, a Rakshasa by name dwelt on the Sala tree. Possessed of great energy and prowess, he was a cruel cannibal of visage that was grim in consequence of his sharp and long teeth. He was now hungry and longing for human flesh. Of long shanks and a large belly, his locks and beard were both red in hue. His shoulders were broad like the neck of a tree; his ears were like unto to arrows, and his features were frightful. Of red eyes and grim visage, the monster beheld, while casting his glances around, the sons of sleeping in those woods. He was then hungry and longing for human flesh. Shaking his dry and grizzly locks and scratching them with his fingers pointed upwards, the large-mouthed cannibal repeatedly looked at the sleeping sons of yawning wistfully at times. Of huge body and great strength, of complexion like the colour of a mass of clouds, of teeth long and sharp-pointed and face emitting a sort of lustre, he was ever pleased with human flesh. And scenting the odour of man, he addressed his sister, saying, 'O sister, it is after a long time that such agreeable food hath has approached me! My mouth waters at the anticipated relish of such food. My eight teeth, so sharp-pointed and incapable of being resisted by any substance, I shall, today, after a long time, put into the most delicious flesh. Attacking the human throat and even opening the veins, I shall (today) drink a plentiful quantity of human blood, hot and fresh and frothy. Go and ascertain who these are, lying asleep in these woods. The strong scent of man pleaseth pleases my nostrils. Slaughtering all these men, bring them unto to me. They sleep within my territory. Thou you needest have no fear from them. Do my bidding soon, for we shall then together eat their flesh, tearing off their bodies at pleasure. And after feasting to our fill on human flesh we shall then dance together to various measures!'
"Thus addressed by in those woods, , the female cannibal, at the command of her brother, went, O bull of Bharata's race, to the spot where the Pandavas were. And on going there, she beheld the Pandavas asleep with their mother and the invincible sitting awake. And beholding unrivalled on earth for beauty and like unto to a vigorous Sala tree, the Rakshasa woman immediately fell in love with him, and she said to herself, 'This person of hue like heated gold and of mighty arms, of broad shoulders as the lion, and so resplendent, of neck marked with three lines like a conch-shell and eyes like lotus-petals, is worthy of being my husband. I shall not obey the cruel mandate of my brother. A woman's love for her husband is stronger than her affection for her brother. If I slay him, my brother's gratification as well as mine will only be momentary. But if I slay him not, I can enjoy, with him for ever and ever.' Thus saying, the Rakshasa woman, capable of assuming form at will, assumed an excellent human form and began to advance with slow steps towards of mighty arms. Decked with celestial ornaments she advanced with smiles on her lips and a modest gait, and addressing said, 'O bull among men, whence from where hast have thou you come here and who art thou you? Who, besides, are these persons of celestial beauty sleeping here? Who also, O sinless one, is this lady of transcendent beauty sleeping so trustfully in these woods as if she were lying in her own chamber? Dost do thou you not know that this forest is the abode of a Rakshasa. Truly do I say, here liveth lives the wicked Rakshasa called . Ye you beings of celestial beauty, I have been sent hither here even by that Rakshasa--my brother--with the cruel intent of killing you for his food. But I tell thee you truly that beholding thee you resplendent as a celestial, I would have none else for my husband save thee you! Thou you who art acquainted with all duties, knowing this, do unto to me what is proper. My heart as well as my body hath has been pierced by (the shafts of) Kama (Cupid). O, as I am desirous of obtaining thee you, make me thine yours. O thou you of mighty arms, I will rescue thee you from the Rakshasa who eateth eats human flesh. O sinless one, be thou you my husband. We shall then live on the breasts of mountains inaccessible to ordinary mortals. I can range the air and I do so at pleasure. Thou you mayest may enjoy great felicity with me in those regions.'
"Hearing these words of hers, replied, 'O Rakshasa woman, who can, like a Muni having all his passions under control, abandon his sleeping mother and elder and younger brothers? What man like me would go to gratify his lust, leaving his sleeping mother and brothers as food for a Rakshasa?'
"The Rakshasa woman replied, 'O, awaken all these, I shall do unto to you all that is agreeable to thee you! I shall certainly rescue you all from my cannibal brother?'
" then said, 'O Rakshasa woman, I will not, from fear of thy your wicked brother, awaken my brothers and mother sleeping comfortably in the woods. O timid one, Rakshasas are never able to bear the prowess of my arms. And, O thou you of handsome eyes, neither men, nor Gandharvas, nor Yakshas are able to bear my might. O amiable one, thou you mayst may stay or go as thou you likest like, or mayst may even send thy your cannibal brother, O thou you of delicate shape. I care not.'"