[Pg 300]
And the ruddy geese, and the gallinules and the ducks and thekarandavas and the plavas and the parrots and themale kokilas and the herons in confusion flew in alldirections, while some proud elephants urged by their mates, asalso some lions and elephants in rage, flew at Bhimasena. And asthey were distracted at heart through fear, these fierce animalsdischarging urine and dung, set up loud yells with gapping mouths.Thereupon the illustrious and graceful son of the wind-god, themighty Pandava, depending upon the strength of his arms, began toslay one elephant with another elephant and one lion with anotherlion while he despatched the others with slaps. And on being struckby Bhima the lions and the tigers and the leopards, in fright gaveloud cries and discharged urine and dung. And after havingdestroyed these the handsome son of Pandu, possessed of mightystrength, entered into the forest, making all sides resound withhis shouts. And then the long-armed one saw on the slopes of theGandhamadana a beautiful plantain tree spreading over many ayojana. And like unto a mad lion, that one of great strengthproceeded amain towards that tree breaking down various plants. Andthat foremost of strong persons—Bhima—uprootinginnumerable plaintain trunks equal in height to many palm-trees(placed one above another), cast them on all sides with force. Andthat highly powerful one, haughty like a male lion, sent up shouts.And then he encountered countless beasts of gigantic size, andstags, and monkeys, and lions, and buffaloes, and aquatic animals.And what with the cries of these, and what with the shouts ofBhima, even the beasts and birds that were at distant parts of thewood, became all frightened. And hearing those cries of beasts andbirds, myriads of aquatic fowls suddenly rose up on wetted wings.And seeing these fowls of water, that bull among the Bharatasproceeded in that direction; and saw a vast and romantic lake. Andthat fathomless lake was, as it were, being fanned by the goldenplantain trees on the coast, shaken by the soft breezes. Andimmediately descending into the lake abounding in lilies andlotuses, he began to sport lustily like unto a mighty maddenedelephant. Having thus sported there for a long while, he ofimmeasurable effulgence ascended, in order to penetrate with speedinto that forest filled with trees. Then the Pandava winded withall his might his loud-blowing shell. And striking his arms withhis hands, the mighty Bhima made all the points of heaven resound.And filled with the sounds of the shell, and with the shouts ofBhimasena, and also with the reports produced by the striking ofhis arms, the caves of the mountain seemed as if they were roaring.And hearing those loud arm-strokes, like unto the crashing ofthunder, the lions that were slumbering in the caves, utteredmighty howls. And being terrified by the yelling of the lions, theelephants, O Bharata, sent forth tremendous roars, which filled themountain. And hearing those sounds emitted, and knowing alsoBhimasena to be his brother, the ape Hanuman, the chief of monkeys,with the view of doing good to Bhima, obstructed the path leadingto heaven. And thinking that he (Bhima) should not pass that way,(Hanuman) lay across the narrow path, beautified by plantain trees,obstructing it for the sake of the safety of Bhima. With the objectthat Bhima [Pg 301] might not come bycurse or defeat, by entering into the plantain wood, the apeHanuman of huge body lay down amidst the plantain trees, beingovercome with drowsiness. And he began to yawn, lashing his longtail, raised like unto the pole consecrated to Indra, an