Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/477

Thus ends the hundred and fifty-second Section in the Jatu-griha of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said, "As the mighty Bhima proceeded, by the clasp of his breast the whole forest with its trees and their branches seemed to tremble. The motion of his legs raised a wind like unto that which bloweth during the months of Jaishtha and Ashara. And the mighty Bhima proceeded, making a path for, himself, by 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 through the woods, breaking down mighty trees, a 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 tricketh down the three parts of its body. Indeed, so great was the force with which Bhima endued with the speed of Gadura or of Maruta (the god of wind) proceeded that the Pandavas seemed to faint in consequence. Frequently swimming accross streams difficult of being crossed, the Pandavas disguised themselves on their way from fear of the sons of the Dhrita-rashtra. And Bhima carried on his shoulders his illustrious mother of delicate sensibilities along the uneven banks of rivers. Towards the evening, O thou bull of the Bharata race, Bhima (bearing his brothers and mother on his back) reached a terrible forest where fruits and roots and water were scarce and which was resounding with the terrible cries of birds and beasts. The twilight deepened, the cried of birds and beasts became fiercer, darkness surrounded everything from the view, and an untimely wind began to blow that broke and laid low many a tree large and small and many of creeper 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 Kunti afflicted with thirst said unto her