01.141
Core:The fight between Hidimba and Bhima starts.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Bhīmasena, seeing the rākṣasa and smiling as if, said these words to him who was enraged at his sister.
What is it to you, Hiḍimba, whether these peacefully sleeping ones are awakened? Confront me with force, O evil-minded man-eater.
Strike only at me, you should not kill a woman — especially when she has not wronged you, even if another has.
This girl does not desire me by her own will today; she is impelled by Cupid, the body-roaming one. Your sister, O evil-minded one, is a disgrace to the fame of the rākṣasas.
This girl desires me today because of your command and having seen my form; O timid one, she does not disgrace your family.
O rākṣasa, when the fault is caused by Cupid, you should not kill this woman while I stand here, O wicked one.
Come alone with me, O man-eater. I alone will take you today to the abode of Yama.
Today, O rākṣasa, let your head be crushed and shattered, as if by the foot of a mighty elephant.
Today, let the hawks, jackals, and other flesh-eaters joyfully drag your limbs across the earth, O slain one in battle by me.
Today I will make this forest safe in a moment, which was always defiled before by you eating men.
Today your sister, O wicked one, will see you dragged by me on the ground, like a lion drags a mountain-like elephant.
When you are slain by me, O defiler of the rākṣasas, unharmed men who roam the forest shall dwell in this forest.
Hiḍimba said:
What use is your roaring and boasting, O human? Do this by deed and then boast—delay no longer.
You think yourself strong and unchallenged, but today you shall know my strength surpasses yours upon meeting me.
I shall not harm these for now—let them sleep as they wish. Today I shall kill you, O wicked one, who speak unpleasantly.
Having drunk your blood from your limbs, I shall then kill these others too, and afterward this woman who has done wrong.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Having said thus, the man-eater seized his arm and rushed enraged toward Bhīmasena, the subduer of enemies.
As he rushed swiftly, Bhīma of terrible prowess seized his struck arm with force, as if smiling.
Having seized him with force, Bhīma dragged the struggling foe from that place like a lion drags a small beast from its den.
Then the enraged rākṣasa, seized by the Pāṇḍava with force, embraced Bhīmasena and roared a terrible sound.
Again, mighty Bhīma dragged him with force, thinking, “Let not a sound arise to wake my peacefully sleeping brothers.”
Those two, having met each other, dragged each other mightily — the rākṣasa and Bhīmasena displayed supreme prowess.
They broke great trees and pulled creepers, like two frenzied, fiercely enraged sixty-year-old elephants.
Awakened by the great sound of those two, the bull-like men along with their mother saw Hiḍimbā standing in front.
