Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
ते रात्रौ प्रस्थिता: सर्वे सह मात्रा यशस्विन: । अभ्यगच्छन्महारण्ये हिडिम्बवनमन्तिकात्,फिर वे सब यशस्वी पाण्डव माताके साथ रातमें ही वहाँसे चल दिये और हिडिम्बवनके पास एक भारी वनमें जा पहुँचे
te rātrau prasthitāḥ sarve saha mātrā yaśasvinaḥ | abhyagacchan mahāraṇye hiḍimbavanam antikāt ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian, pada malam itu juga, semua putera Pāṇḍu yang termasyhur berangkat bersama ibu mereka. Menempuh rimba belantara yang luas, mereka tiba berhampiran hutan Hiḍimba—meneruskan pengembaraan buangan dengan waspada dan tekad di tengah bahaya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights steadfastness in adversity: the Pāṇḍavas continue their difficult exile without delay, protecting and accompanying their mother, showing responsibility, unity, and alertness while moving through perilous terrain.
Narratively, the Pāṇḍavas depart at night with their mother and reach the vicinity of Hiḍimba’s forest within a vast wilderness, setting the scene for the encounter with the rākṣasa associated with that region.