"Sisupala said,--'That mighty king Jarasandha who desired not to fight
with Krishna, saying "He is a slave," was worthy of my greatest esteem.
Who will regard as praiseworthy the act which was done by Kesava, as
also by Bhima and Arjuna, in the matter of Jarasandha's death? Entering
by an improper gate, disguised as a Brahmana, thus Krishna observed the
strength of king Jarasandha. And when that monarch offered at first
unto this wretch water to wash his feet, it was then that he denied his
Brahmanahood from seeming motives of virtue. And when Jarasandha, O
thou of the Kuru race, asked Krishna and Bhima and Dhananjaya to eat,
it was this Krishna that refused that monarch's request. If this one is
the lord of the universe, as this fool representeth him to be, why doth
he not regard himself as a Brahmana? This, however, surpriseth me
greatly that though thou leadest the Pandavas away from the path of the
wise, they yet regard thee as honest. Or, perhaps, this is scarcely a
matter of surprise in respect of those that have thee, O Bharata,
womanish in disposition and bent down with age, for their counsellor in
everything.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Hearing these words of Sisupala, harsh both
in import and sound, that foremost of mighty men, Bhimasena endued with
energy became angry. And his eyes, naturally large and expanding and
like unto lotus leaves became still more extended and red as copper
under the influence of that rage. And the assembled monarchs beheld on
his forehead three lines of wrinkles like the Ganga of treble currents
on the treble-peaked mountain. When Bhimasena began to grind his teeth
in rage, the monarchs beheld his face resembling that of Death himself,
at the end of the Yuga, prepared to swallow every creature. And as the
hero endued with great energy of mind was about to leap up impetuously,
the mighty-armed Bhishma caught him like Mahadeva seizing Mahasena (the
celestial generalissimo). And, O Bharata, Bhima's wrath was soon
appeased by Bhishma, the grand-sire of the Kurus, with various kinds of
counsel. And Bhima, that chastiser of foes, could not disobey Bhishma's
words, like the ocean that never transgresseth (even when swollen with
the waters of the rainy season) its continents. But, O king, even
though Bhima was angry, the brave Sisupala depending on his own
manhood, did not tremble in fear. And though Bhima was leaping up
impetuously every moment, Sisupala bestowed not a single thought on
him, like a lion that recks not a little animal in rage. The powerful
king of Chedi, beholding Bhima of terrible prowess in such rage,
laughingly said,--'Release him, O Bhishma! Let all the monarchs behold
him scorched by my prowess like an insect in fire.' Hearing these words
of the ruler of the Chedis, Bhishma, that foremost of the Kurus and
chief of all intelligent men, spoke unto Bhima these words.