SECTION –CLVI
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
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 a 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 never 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. To day 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."
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