The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 9

well-protected by Kuvera. And as soon as he
beheld that river and that unearthly lake, Kunti's son, Bhimasena of
mighty strength became exceedingly delighted. And agreeably to the
mandate of their king, hundreds and thousands of Rakshasas, named
Krodhavasas, were guarding that lake, wearing uniforms and armed
with various weapons. And as that repressor of foes, Kunti's son, the
heroic Bhima of dreadful prowess, clad in deer-skins and wearing
golden armlets and equipped with weapons and girding his sword on,

was fearlessly proceeding, with the view of gathering the lotus, those
(Rakshasas) saw him and immediately began to address each other,
shouting forth, 'It behoveth you to enquire for the errand on which this
foremost of men, clad in deer skins, and equipped with arms, hath
come.' Then they all approached the effulgent Vrikodara of mighty
arms and asked, 'Who art thou? Thou shouldst answer our questions.
We see thee in the guise of an ascetic and yet armed with weapons. O
thou of mighty intelligence, do thou unfold unto us the object with
which thou hast come (hither).'"
SECTION CLIII
"Bhima said, 'I am the son of Pandu, and next by birth to Yudhishthira
the just, and my name is Bhimasena. O Rakshasas, I have come with
my brothers to the jujube named Visala. At that place, Panchali saw an
excellent Saugandhika lotus, which, of a certainty, was carried thither
by the wind from this region. She wisheth to have those flowers in
abundance. Know ye, ye Rakshasas, that I am engaged in fulfilling the
desire of my wedded wife of faultless features, and have come hither to
procure the flowers.' Thereat the Rakshasas said, 'O foremost of men,
this spot is dear unto Kuvera, and it is his sporting region. Men subject
to death cannot sport here. O Vrikodara, the celestial sages, and the
gods taking the permission of the chief of the Yakshas, drink of this
lake, and sport herein. And, O Pandava, the Gandharvas and the
Apsaras also divert themselves in this lake. That wicked person who,
disregarding the lord of treasures, unlawfully attempteth to sport here,
without doubt, meeteth with destruction. Disregarding him, thou
seekest to take away the lotuses from this place by main force. Why
then dost thou say that thou art the brother of Yudhishthira the just?
First, taking the permission of the lord of Yakshas, do thou drink of this
lake and take away the flowers. If thou dost not do this, thou shall not
be able even to glance at a single lotus.' Bhimasena said, 'Ye Rakshasas,
I do not see the lord of wealth here. And even if I did see that mighty
king, I would not beseech him: Kshatriyas never beseech (any body).
This is the eternal morality; and I by no means wish to forsake the
Kshatriya morality. And, further this lotus-lake hath sprung from the
cascades of the mountain; it hath not been excavated in the mansion of

Kuvera. Therefore it belongeth equally to all creatures with Vaisravana.
In regard to a thing of such a nature, who goeth to beseech another?'"
Vaisampayana said, "Having said this unto the Rakshasas, the
mighty-armed and exceedingly unforbearing Bhimasena of great
strength plunged into the lotus-lake. Thereat that powerful one was
forbidden by the Rakshasas, saying, 'Do not do this;' and they from all
sides began to abuse him in anger. But slighting these Rakshasas, that
mighty one of dreadful prowess plunged (farther and farther). Now they
all prepared for opposing him. And with eyes rolling, they upraised
their arms, and rushed in wrath at Bhimasena, exclaiming, 'Seize him!
Bind him! Hew him! We shall cook Bhimasena, and eat him up!'
Thereupon that one of great force, taking his ponderous and mighty
mace inlaid with golden plates, like unto the mace of Yama himself,
turned towards those, and then said, 'Stay!' At this, they darted at him
with vehemence, brandishing lances, and axes, and other weapons. And
wishing to destroy Bhima, the dreadful and fierce Krodhavasas
surrounded Bhima on all sides. But that one, being endued with
strength, had been begotten by Vayu in the womb of Kunti; and he was
heroic and energetic, and the slayer of foes, and ever devoted to virtue
and truth, and incapable of being vanquished by enemies through
prowess. Accordingly this high-souled Bhima defeating all the
manoeuvres of the foes, and breaking their arms, killed on the banks of
the lake more than a hundred, commencing with the foremost. And
then witnessing his prowess and strength, and the force of his skill, and
also the might of his arms; and unable to bear (the onset), those prime
heroes all of a sudden fled on all sides in bands.
"Beaten and pierced by Bhimasena, those Krodhavasas quitted the field
of battle, and in confusion quickly fled