08.061
Core and Pancharatra: Bhima drew his sharp, excellent sword and seized the trembling throat of Duḥśāsana. After cutting open the chest of the fallen one on the ground, he drank the warm blood, tasting it repeatedly. The elated one roared loudly, his body drenched in blood.
Sanjaya said:
In the midst of the battle, Prince Duhshasana performed a challenging feat by cutting Bhima's bow with a razor and striking the charioteer with six arrows.
Then the great warrior swiftly struck Bhimasena with numerous fine arrows. Bleeding like a pierced elephant, he hurled a mace at him amidst the chaos.
Bhīmasena forcibly took away ten bows and killed Duḥśāsana. Trembling and fallen, Duḥśāsana was struck by the swift mace.
The horses and charioteers were slain, O king, and his chariot was crushed by the falling one. His armor, ornaments, garments, and garlands were shattered, and he struggled, greatly afflicted by pain.
Then, remembering the act employed by your sons against the enemy, the vigorous Bhimasena jumped down from the chariot and went to the ground, fixing his eyes there with effort.
He drew his sharp, excellent sword and seized the trembling throat. After cutting open the chest of the fallen one on the ground, he drank the warm blood. Tasting it repeatedly, he looked around, excessively angry, and spoke.
The juice derived from milk, honey, ghee, mead, divine water, milk and curd, and churning is considered superior to all by me, especially the one with red applied.
As he spoke thus, they ran again, tasting and leaping with great delight. Those who saw Bhimasena at that moment were also struck with fear and fell down in distress.
The humans who had arrived there dropped their weapons from their hands. Out of fear, they screamed loudly and, with closed eyes, they saw that it was not.
Those who witnessed Bhima there, drinking the blood of Duhshasana, fled in all directions, overcome with fear, exclaiming, "This is not a human being."
The heroes of the world, upon hearing, said this: "I drink your blood from the throat, O worst of men. Now speak, very enraged, again 'cow, thus', 'cow, thus'."
In the measure of crores, sleep is the sustenance for Kālakūṭa; being bitten by snakes is painful, and there is burning in a house made of lac.
The loss of the kingdom due to gambling, living in the forest, the use of bows and arrows in battles, and the discomforts at home.
We are always aware of these sorrows and never of happiness, due to the wickedness of Dhritarashtra and his sons.
Having declared victory, Bhima, also known as Vrikodara, addressed the king once more, smiling at Krishna and Arjuna.
To Duḥśāsana, what I promised in battle has been fulfilled today, O heroes. Today, I will offer another, the second one, Duryodhana, as a sacrificial victim, having slain him.
By crushing the head of the wicked one with my foot, I will secure peace in front of the Kauravas.
Having spoken thus, the elated one roared loudly, his body drenched in blood. The mighty soul danced with joy, having slain Vritra, the thousand-eyed Indra.
