SECTION CLV
(Hidimva-vadha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Hidimva, the chief of the Rakshasas, seeing that his
sister returned not soon enough, alighted from the tree, proceeded
quickly to the spot where the Pandavas were. Of red eyes and strong arms
and the arms and the hair of his head standing erect, of large open mouth
and body like unto a mass of dark clouds, teeth long and sharp-pointed,
he was terrible to behold. And Hidimva, beholding her brother of
frightful visage alight from the tree, became very much alarmed, and
addressing Bhima said, 'The wicked cannibal is coming hither in wrath. I
entreat thee, do with your brothers, as I bid thee. O you of great
courage, as I am endued with the powers of a Rakshasa, I am capable of
going whithersoever I like. Mount the on my hips, I will carry you all
through the skies. And, O chastiser of foes, awaken these and your mother
sleeping in comfort. Taking them all on my body, I will convey you
through the skies.'
"Bhima then said, 'O you of fair hips, fear not anything. I am sure that
as long as I am here, there is no Rakshasa capable of injuring any of
these, O you of slender waist. I will slay this (cannibal) before thy
very eyes. This worst of Rakshasas, O timid one, is no worthy antagonist
of mine, nor can all the Rakshasas together bear the strength of my arms.
Behold these strong arms of mine, each like unto the trunk of an
elephant. Behold also these thighs of mine like unto iron maces, and this
broad and adamantine chest. O beautiful one, you shall today behold my
prowess like unto that of Indra. O you of fair hips, hate me not,
thinking that I am a man.'
"Hidimva replied saying, 'O tiger among men, O you of the beauty of a
celestial, I do not certainly hold you in contempt. But I have seen the
prowess that Rakshasas exert upon men.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then, O Bharata, the wrathful Rakshasa eating
human flesh heard these words of Bhima who had been talking in that way.
And Hidimva beheld his sister disguised in human form, her head decked
with garlands of flowers and her face like the full moon and her eyebrows
and nose and eyes and ringlets all of the handsomest description, and her
nails and complexion of the most delicate hue, and herself wearing every
kind of ornament and attired in fine transparent robes. The cannibal,
beholding her in that charming human form, suspected that she was
desirous of carnal intercourse and became indignant. And, O best of the
Kurus, becoming angry with his sister, the Rakshasa dilated his eyes and
addressing her said, 'What senseless creature wishes to throw obstacles
in my path now that I am so hungry? Hast you become so senseless, O
Hidimva, that you fearest not my wrath? Fie on thee, you unchaste
woman! Thou are even now desirous of carnal intercourse and solicitous of
doing me an injury. Thou are ready to sacrifice the good name and honour
of all the Rakshasas, your ancestors! Those with whose aid you wouldst do
me this great injury, I will, even now, slay along with thee.' Addressing
his sister thus, Hidimva, with eyes red with anger and teeth pressing
against teeth, ran at her to kill her then and there. But beholding him
rush at his sister, Bhima, that foremost of smiter, endued with great
energy, rebuked him and said, Stop--Stop!"
"Vaisampayana continued, 'And Bhima, beholding the Rakshasa angry with
his sister, smiled (in derision), and said, addressing him, 'O Hidimva,
what need is there for you to awaken these persons sleeping so
comfortably? O wicked cannibal, approach me first without loss of time.
Smite me first,--it behoveth you not to kill a woman, especially when
she hath been sinned against instead of sinning. This girl is scarcely
responsible for her act in desiring intercourse with me. She hath, in
this, been moved by the deity of desire that pervadeth every living form.
Thou wicked wretch and the most infamous of Rakshasas, your sister came
here at your command. Beholding my person, she desireth me. In that the
timid girl doth no injury to thee. It is the deity of desire that hath
offended. It behoveth you not to injure her for this offence. O wicked
wretch, you shalt not slay a woman when I am here. Come with me, O
cannibal, and fight with myself singly. Singly shall I send you today to
the abode of Yama (Pluto). O Rakshasa, let your head today, pressed by my
might, be pounded to pieces, as though pressed by the tread of a mighty
elephant. When you are slain by me on the field of battle, let herons
and hawks and jackals tear in glee your limbs today on the ground. In a
moment I shall today make this forest destitute of Rakshasas,--this
forest that had so long been ruled by thee, devourer of human beings! Thy
sister, O Rakshasa, shall today behold thyself, huge though you are like
a mountain, like a huge elephant repeatedly dragged by a lion, O worst of
Rakshasas, thyself slain by me, men ranging these woods will henceforth
do so safely and without fear.'
"Hearing these words, Hidimva said, 'What need is there, O man, for this
thy vaunt and this your boast? Accomplish all this first, and then mayst
thou vaunt indeed. Therefore, delay you not. Thou knowest thyself to be
strong and endued with prowess, so you shalt rightly estimate thy
strength today in your encounter with me. Until that, I will not slay
these (thy brothers). Let them sleep comfortably. But I will, as you art
a fool and the utterer of evil speeches, slay you first. After drinking
thy blood, I will slay these also, and then last of all, this (sister of
mine) that hath done me an injury.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Saying this, the cannibal, extending his arms
ran in wrath towards Bhimasena, that chastiser of foes. Then Bhima of
terrible prowess quickly seized, as though in sport, with great force,
the extended arms of the Rakshasa who had rushed at him. Then seizing the
struggling Rakshasa with violence, Bhima dragged him from that spot full
thirty-two cubits like a lion dragging a little animal. Then the
Rakshasa, thus made to feel the weight of Bhima's strength, became very
angry and clasping the Pandava, sent forth a terrible yell. The mighty
Bhima then dragged with force the Rakshasa to a greater distance, lest
his yells should awaken his brothers sleeping in comfort. Clasping and
dragging each other with great force, both Hidimva and Bhimasena put
forth their prowess. Fighting like two full-grown elephants mad with
rage, they then began to break down the trees and tear the creepers that
grew around. And at those sounds, those tigers among men (the sleeping
Pandavas) woke up with their mother, and saw Hidimva sitting before
them.'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 1 : UPA-PARVA 155 ---------------------
