Vaisampayana continued, "Thus dwelling with the Brahmanas in that best
of mountains, in expectation of Arjuna's return, when the Pandavas had
grown confident and when all those Rakshasas together with Bhima's son
had departed, one day while Bhimasena was away, a Rakshasa all of a
sudden carried off Yudhishthira the just and the twins and Krishna. That
Rakshasa (in the guise of a Brahmana) had constantly remained in the
company of the Pandavas, alleging that he was a high-class Brahmana,
skilled in counsel, and versed in all the _Sastras_. His object was to
possess himself of the bows, the quivers and the other material
implements belonging to the Pandavas; and he had been watching for an
opportunity of ravishing Draupadi. And that wicked and sinful one was
named Jatasura. And, O king of kings, Pandu's son (Yudhishthira) had
been supporting him, but knew not that wretch like unto a fire covered
with ashes.
"And once on a day while that represser of foes, Bhimasena, was out
hunting, he (the Rakshasa), seeing Ghatotkacha and his followers scatter
in different directions and seeing those vow-observing great _rishis_,
of ascetic wealth, viz., Lomasa and the rest, away for bathing and
collecting flowers, assumed a different form, gigantic and monstrous and
frightful; and having secured all the arms (of the Pandavas) as also
Draupadi, that wicked one fled away taking the three Pandavas. Thereupon
that son of Pandu, Sahadeva, extricated himself with exertion, and by
force snatched the sword named Kausika from the grasp of the enemy and
began to call Bhimasena, taking the direction in which that mighty one
had gone. And on being carried off Yudhishthira the just, addressed him
(that Rakshasa), saying, 'O stupid one, thy merit decreaseth (even by
this act of thine). Dost thou not pay heed unto the established order of
nature? Whether belonging to the human race, or to the lower orders, all
pay regard to virtue,--more specially the Rakshasas. In the first
instance, they knew virtue better than others. Having considered all
these, thou ought to adhere to virtue. O Rakshasa, the gods, the
_pitris_, the Siddhas, the _rishis_, the Gandharvas, the brutes and even
the worms and ants depend for their lives on men; and thou too liveth
through that agency. If prosperity attendeth the human race, thy race
also prospereth; and if calamities befall the former, even the
celestials suffer grief. Being gratified by offerings, do the gods
thrive. O Rakshasa, we are the guardians, governors and preceptors of
kingdoms. If kingdoms become unprotected, whence can proceed prosperity
and happiness? Unless there be offence, a Rakshasa should not violate a
king. O man-eating one, we have committed no wrong, ever so little.
Living on _vighasa_, we serve the gods and others to the best of our
power. And we are ever intent upon bowing down to our superiors and
Brahmanas. A friend, and one confiding, and he whose food hath been
partaken of, and he that hath afforded shelter, should never be injured.
Thou hast lived in our place happily, being duly honoured. And, O
evil-minded one, having partaken of our food, how canst thou carry us
off? And as thy acts are so improper and as thou hast grown in age
without deriving any benefit and as thy propensities are evil, so thou
deservest to die for nothing, and for nothing wilt thou die to-day. And
if thou beest really evil-disposed and devoid of all virtue, do thou
render us back our weapons and ravish Draupadi after fight. But if
through stupidity thou must do this deed, then in the world thou wilt
only reap demerit and infamy. O Rakshasa, by doing violence to this
female of the human race, thou hast drunk poison, after having shaken
the vessel.' Thereupon, Yudhishthira made himself ponderous to the
Rakshasa. And being oppressed with the weight, he could not proceed
rapidly as before. Then addressing Draupadi, Nakula and Sahadeva,
Yudhishthira said, 'Do ye not entertain any fear of this wretched
Rakshasa, I have checked his speed. The mighty-armed son of the Wind-god
may not be far away; and on Bhima coming up at the next moment, the
Rakshasa will not live.' O king, staring at the Rakshasa bereft of
sense, Sahadeva addressed Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, saying, 'What
can be more meritorious for a Kshatriya than to fall in fight, or defeat
a foe? O repressor of foes, we will fight and either this one will slay
us, or we shall slay him, O mighty-armed one. Verily this is the place
and time, O king. And, O thou of unfailing prowess, the time hath come
for the display of our Kshatriya virtue. It behoveth us to attain heaven
either by gaining victory or being slain. If the sun sets to-day, the
Rakshasa living yet, O Bharata, I will not any more say that I am a
Kshatriya. Ho! Ho! Rakshasa, say! I am Pandu's son, Sahadeva. Either,
after having killed me, carry off this lady, or being slain, lie
senseless here.'
"Madri's son, Sahadeva, was speaking thus, when Bhimasena made his
appearance, with a mace in his hand, like unto Vasava himself wielding
the thunder-bolt. And here he saw his two brothers and the noble-minded
Draupadi (on the shoulders of the demon), and Sahadeva on the ground
rebuking the Rakshasa and also that stupid Rakshasa himself deprived of
sense by Fate, going round in different directions through bewilderment
caused by Destiny. And finding his brothers and Draupadi being carried
off, Bhima of mighty strength was fired with wrath, and addressed the
Rakshasa, saying, 'I had ere this found thee out for a wicked wight from
thy scrutiny of our weapons; but as I had no apprehension of thee, so I
had not slain thee at that time. Thou wert in the disguise of a
Brahmana--nor didst thou say anything harsh unto us. And thou didst take
delight in pleasing us. And thou also didst not do us wrong. And,
furthermore, thou wert our guest. How could I, therefore, slay thee, who
wert thus innocent of offence, and who wert in the disguise of a
Brahmana? He that knowing such a one to be even a Rakshasa, slayeth him,
goes to hell. Further, thou canst not be killed before the time cometh.
Surely to-day thou hast reached the fullness of thy time in as much as
thy mind hath been thus turned by the wonder-performing Fate towards
carrying off Krishna. By committing thyself to this deed, thou hast
swallowed up the hook fastened to the line of Fate. So like unto a fish
in water, whose mouth hath been hooked, how canst thou live to-day? Thou
shall not have to go whither thou intendest to, or whither thou hadst
already gone mentally; but thou shall go whither have repaired Vaka and
Hidimva.'
"Thus addressed by Bhima, the Rakshasa in alarm put them down; and being
forced by Fate, approached for fight. And with his lips trembling in
anger he spake unto Bhima, saying, 'Wretch! I have not been bewildered;
I had been delaying for thee. Today will I offer oblations of thy blood
to those Rakshasas who, I had heard, have been slain by thee in fight.'
Thus addressed, Bhima, as if bursting with wrath, like unto Yama himself
at the time of the universal dissolution, rushed towards the Rakshasa,
licking the corners of his mouth and staring at him as he struck his own
arms with the hands. And seeing Bhima waiting in expectation of fight,
the Rakshasa also darted towards him in anger, like unto Vali towards
the wielder of the thunderbolt, repeatedly gaping and licking the
corners of his mouth. And when a dreadful wrestling ensued between those
two, both the sons of Madri, waxing exceeding wroth rushed forward; but
Kunti's son, Vrikodara, forbade them with a smile and said, 'Witness ye!
I am more than a match for this Rakshasa. By my own self and by my
brothers, and by my merit, and by my good deeds, and by my sacrifices,
do I swear that I shall slay this Rakshasa.' And after this was said,
those two heroes, the Rakshasa and Vrikodara challenging each other,
caught each other by the arms. And they not forgiving each other, then
there ensued a conflict between the infuriated Bhima and the Rakshasa,
like unto that between a god and a demon. And repeatedly uprooting
trees, those two of mighty strength struck each other, shouting and
roaring like two masses of clouds. And those foremost of athletes, each
wishing to kill the other, and rushing at the other with vehemence,
broke down many a gigantic tree by their thighs. Thus that encounter
with trees, destructive of plants, went on like unto that between the
two brothers Vali and Sugriva--desirous of the possession of a single
woman. Brandishing trees for a moment, they struck each other with them,
shouting incessantly. And when all the trees of the spot had been pulled
down and crushed into fibres by them endeavouring to kill each other,
then, O Bharata, those two of mighty strength, taking up rocks, began to
fight for a while, like unto a mountain and a mighty mass of clouds. And
not suffering each other, they fell to striking each other with hard and
large crags, resembling vehement thunder-bolts. Then from strength
defying each other, they again darted at each other, and grasping each
other by their arms, began to wrestle like unto two elephants. And next
they dealt each other fierce blows. And then those two mighty ones began
to make chattering sounds by gnashing their teeth. And at length, having
clenched his fist like a five-headed snake, Bhima with force dealt a
blow on the neck of the Rakshasa. And when struck by that fist of Bhima,
the Rakshasa became faint, Bhimasena stood, catching hold of that
exhausted one. And then the god-like mighty-armed Bhima lifted him with
his two arms, and dashing him with force on the ground, the son of Pandu
smashed all his limbs. And striking him with his elbow, he severed from
his body the head with bitten lips and rolling eyes, like unto a fruit
from its stem. And Jatasura's head being severed by Bhimasena's might,
he fell besmeared with gore, and having bitten lips. Having slain
Jatasura, Bhima presented himself before Yudhishthira, and the foremost
Brahmanas began to eulogise him (Bhima) even as the Marutas (eulogise)
Vasava."