03.154
The episode of the slaying of Jaṭāsura
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, after the guards had departed, the Pāṇḍavas who were confidently dwelling there, as well as Bhīmasena's son, also remained. (03-154-1)
Once, when they were without Bhīmasena, the demon, by chance, seized Dharmarāja, the twins, and Kṛṣṇā. (03-154-2)
The Brahmin, skilled in mantras and foremost in knowledge of all weapons, always attended upon the Pandavas, speaking thus. (03-154-3)
Jaṭāsura, known by that name, examining the Pāṇḍavas' quivers and bows, sought to find an opening among them. (03-154-4)
When Bhīmasena had gone out for hunting, O subduer of enemies, he assumed another form—strange, terrifying, and great. (03-154-5)
Having taken all the weapons and having seized Draupadī, that wicked-souled one set out, taking also the three Pāṇḍavas. (03-154-6)
But Sahadeva, the Pāṇḍava, with effort withdrew from there and called out to Bhīmasena, by whom the mighty one had gone. (03-154-7)
As he was being taken away, Yudhishthira, the King of Dharma, spoke to him: "Your dharma is being diminished, O deluded one, and you do not perceive it." (03-154-8)
Some others among humans, as well as those born in animal species—gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, birds, and animals—also subsist upon humans; thus, you subsist upon them. (3-154-9)
Truly, through the prosperity of this world, your world prospers. And when this world is suffering, the deities lament after it. When worshipped with proper oblations and offerings, the deities are nourished and grow. (03-154-10)
We are the nation's protectors and guardians, O Rākṣasa. If the nation is not protected, how can there be prosperity, how can there be happiness? (03-154-11)
The king should never be despised by you, O Rākṣasa, at any time, especially in one who is innocent. Not even the slightest offense exists with us, O man-eater. (03-154-12)
One must not harm either friends or those who are trusted at any time—especially those whose food one eats and where one finds shelter. (03-154-13)
But you, having been honored and comfortably housed under our protection, and after partaking of our food, foolish one, how do you wish to abandon us? (03-154-14)
Just so, you are of futile conduct, have grown old in vain, possess a wasted intellect, and are deserving of a worthless death; from today, you will not be in vain. (03-154-15)
Now, if you, being of corrupt mind and devoid of all virtues, surrender our weapons and seize Draupadī by fighting, (03-154-16)
If you do this action without understanding, then you will attain only unrighteousness and disrepute in the world. (03-154-17)
O rākṣasa, having touched this human woman today, you have consumed this poison, well mixed in the pot. (03-154-18)
Then Yudhiṣṭhira became his burden-bearer. But, being weighed down by the burden, he was not able to move as quickly. (03-154-19)
Then Yudhiṣṭhira said to Draupadī and Nakula: "Do not fear the rākṣasas; I have taken away this deluded being's path." (03-154-20)
The son of the wind, who possesses mighty arms, will not be far off. When this very moment has arrived, the demon will cease to exist. (03-154-21)
But Sahadeva, seeing that demon whose mind was deluded, spoke words to Kunti's son, Yudhishthira, O king. (03-154-22)
O king, can there be any deed of a kṣatriya greater than this: facing the enemy in battle, to either lay down his life or to conquer his foes? (03-154-23)
O mighty-armed, O king, this is the time and place for us; O scorcher of foes, if we fight, we may destroy him and his people. (03-154-24)
O truly valiant one, the time for the kṣatriya's duty has come. Whether we conquer or fall in battle, we deserve to attain the noble state. (03-154-25)
O Bhārata, if today, while the demon is still alive, the sun should set, I would never again claim, "I am a warrior." (3-154-26)
O O rākṣasa, stand! I am Sahadeva, a Pāṇḍava. Kill me and lead these away, or if killed, today here you will sleep. (03-154-27)
In the same way, as Bhimasena was speaking, by chance the strong-armed Indra, like one wielding the thunderbolt, appeared. (03-154-28)
At that time, he saw his two brothers there, and the illustrious Draupadī, and Sahadeva standing on the ground, while the rākṣasa was hurling him. (03-154-29)
The rākṣasa, who was deluded and whose mind was confounded by time, was prevented by destiny from the path as he wandered about here and there. (03-154-30)
Seeing his brothers and Draupadī being carried away, the mighty Bhīma became angry and addressed the Rākṣasa with these words. (03-154-31)
I previously recognized you, acting during the trial of weapons. But I have no faith in you, since you were not killed then. Concealed by the form of Brahman, you do not tell us anything unpleasant. (03-154-32)
You, moving among dear ones and not doing any harm, are a guest and bear the form of Brahman—how could I kill an innocent being? Even considering as a rākṣasa, whoever were to kill one would go to hell. (03-154-33)
For one who is unripe, fate does not allow death. Surely, today you are matured, as your mind is of this kind—destined by the wondrous act of time in the abduction of Krishna. (03-154-34)
Just as a fish in water, caught on a hook and pierced in the mouth, hangs by the thread of time—how will you come to me today? (03-154-35)
The place to which you have set out, where your mind had gone before, you will not go, you will go the path of Baka and Hiḍimba. (03-154-36)
When thus addressed by Bhīma, the demon, impelled by fate, terrified, abandoned all his companions and stood ready for battle. (03-154-37)
Then, with quivering lips in anger, he spoke to Bhīma again: 'My senses are not confused, O sinner; my delay is only for your sake.' (03-154-38)
I have heard of the rākṣasas who were slain by you in battle; today, with your blood, I will perform the water-rite for them. (03-154-39)
Thus, when addressed, Bhima, licking his lips and grinning as if in anger, looking just like Death himself, wishing only for the exertion of his arms, rushed at the demon. (03-154-40)
The Rākṣasa too then, enraged, rushed towards Bhīma—who was standing ready for battle—just like Bala (the strong one) would rush at the wielder of the thunderbolt (Indra). (03-154-41)
At that moment, as the fierce hand-to-hand combat continued, the two sons of Mādrī, both very enraged, rushed at each other. (03-154-42)
Smiling, Vṛkodara, the son of Kuntī, restrained the two and said, 'I am capable of facing the Rākṣasa—just watch.' (03-154-43)
O king, I swear by myself, my brothers, righteousness, good deeds, and sacrifices performed, that I will destroy the rākṣasa. (03-154-44)
Thus, having spoken in this way, those two heroes—the Rākṣasa and Bhīma (Vṛkodara)—competed with each other and both engaged in battle with their arms. (03-154-45)
A fierce attack took place between those two enraged and terrible rāksasas, each not tolerating the other, in the battle—like that between gods and demons. (03-154-46)
Having torn off trees, both of them struck each other, roaring like clouds at the end of summer, both possessing great strength. (03-154-47)
The two strongest heroes, enraged and eager to surpass each other, broke great trees with their thighs, each intent on victory over the other. (03-154-48)
That battle with trees became a destruction of trees for Vāli and Sugrīva, the two brother monkey-chiefs, just as before. (03-154-49)
Striking repeatedly, the two struck each other and the trees for a moment, both of them roaring again and again. (03-154-50)
In that region, when all the trees had indeed been felled and piled up in hundreds, with mutual desire to destroy one another. (03-154-51)
Then, O Bhārata, having seized rocks, the two mighty lords of mountains, each of great strength, engaged in battle for a brief moment, like great clouds. (03-154-52)
The unyielding ones struck each other with fierce, mighty, and terrible-formed weapons, like thunderbolts with great speed. (03-154-53)
Having struck at each other again, those two, proud of their strength, seized each other with their arms and then dragged one another, like two elephants. (03-154-54)
With their very terrifying fists, the two rushed at each other, and from both of those exceedingly great-souled ones arose the sound 'caṭacaṭā'. (03-154-55)
Then Bhima, having drawn back his fist, struck the demon’s neck with great force, like (striking) a five-headed serpent. (03-154-56)
Then Bhīmasena, seeing that the exhausted rakṣas whom he had struck with his arm was completely spent, approached him. (03-154-57)
Then Bhima, the mighty-armed and equal to the immortals, seized him with his arms, lifted him up forcefully, and crushed him onto the ground. (03-154-58)
The Pāṇḍava crushed all his limbs; and with the club, after striking, he removed the head from the body. (03-154-59)
With lips bitten and eyes bulging, the severed head of Jaṭāsura, like fruit fallen from its stalk, was cut off by the strength of Bhīmasena and fell, smeared with blood, its jaws clenched. (03-154-60)
Having slain him, the great archer approached Yudhishthira, praised by the foremost of the twice-born, just as Indra is praised by the Maruts. (03-154-61)
