(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
thy brothers, as I bid thee. O thou of great courage, as I am endued with
the powers of a Rakshasa, I am capable of going whithersoever I like.
Mount ye on my hips, I will carry you all through the skies. And, O
chastiser of foes, awaken these and thy mother sleeping in comfort. Taking
them all on my body, I will convey you through the skies."
"'Bhima then said, "O thou 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 thou 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, thou shall today behold my prowess like
unto that of Indra. O thou of fair hips, hate me not, thinking that I am a
man."
"'Hidimva replied saying, "O tiger among men, O thou of the beauty of a
celestial, I do not certainly hold thee 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 thou become so senseless, O Hidimva,
that thou fearest not my wrath? Fie on thee, thou unchaste woman! Thou art
even now desirous of carnal intercourse and solicitous of doing me an
injury. Thou art ready to sacrifice the good name and honour of all the
Rakshasas, thy ancestors! Those with whose aid thou 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 smiters, 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 thee to awaken these persons sleeping so comfortably? O
wicked cannibal, approach me first without loss of time. Smite me first,--
it behoveth thee 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, thy sister came here at thy 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
thee not to injure her for this offence. O wicked wretch, thou shalt not
slay a woman when I am here. Come with me, O cannibal, and fight with
myself singly. Singly shall I send thee today to the abode of Yama (Pluto).
O Rakshasa, let thy head today, pressed by my might, be pounded to pieces,
as though pressed by the tread of a mighty elephant. When thou art slain
by me on the field of battle, let herons and hawks and jackals tear in
glee thy 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 thou art 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 thy boast? Accomplish all this first, and then mayst
thou vaunt indeed. Therefore, delay thou not. Thou knowest thyself to be
strong and endued with prowess, so thou shalt rightly estimate thy
strength today in thy encounter with me. Until that, I will not slay these
(thy brothers). Let them sleep comfortably. But I will, as thou art a fool
and the utterer of evil speeches, slay thee 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.'"