slew him like a beast.  And placing his knee on the waist of that wretch of Rakshasa, Vrikodara began to press the neck of the foe with his hands.  Then Bhima, dragging along the earth the bruised body of the Rakshasa with the eye-lids about to close, said, “O sinful wretch, thou wilt no more have to wipe away the tears of Hidimva or Vaka, for thou too art about to go to the mansions of Yama!” And saying this, that foremost of men, his heart filled with wrath, beholding the Rakshasa destitute of clothing and ornaments, and insensible, and undergoing convulsions, left him dead.  And after that Rakshasa of hue like the clouds had been slain, the son of that best of kings (Pandu) praised Bhima for his many qualities, and placing Krishna in their front, set out for the Dwaita woods.’

“Vidura said, ’It was thus, O lord of men, that Kirmira was slain in combat by Bhima, in obedience, O Kaurava, to the commands of Yudhishthira the just!  And having rid the forest of its pest, the victorious Yudhishthira the just, began to live in that dwelling of theirs, with Draupadi.  And those bulls of the Bharata race comforting Draupadi began to cheerfully extol Bhima with glad hearts.  And after the Rakshasa had been slain, borne down by the might of Bhima’s arms, those heroes entered into the peaceful forest freed from its annoyance.  Passing through the great forest I saw lying the body of the wicked and fearless Rakshasa slain by Bhima’s might.  And, O Bharata, there I heard of this achievement of Bhima from those Brahmanas who have assembled round the Pandavas.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Hearing the account of the slaughter in combat of Kirmira, that foremost of Rakshasas, the king sighed in sorrow and became absorbed in thought.”

SECTION XII

(Arjunabhigamana Parva)

Vaisampayana said, “Hearing that the Pandavas had been banished, the Bhojas, the Vrishnis, and the Andhakas went to those heroes residing in affliction in the great forest.  And the consanguinous relatives of Panchala, and Dhrishtaketu the king of Chedi, and those celebrated and powerful brothers the Kaikeyas, their hearts fired with wrath, went to the forest to see the sons of Pritha.  And reproaching the sons of Dhritarashtra, they said, ‘What should we do?’ And those bulls of the Kshatriya race, with Vasudeva at their head, sat themselves down round Yudhishthira the just.  And respectfully saluting that foremost of the Kurus, Kesava mournfully said, ’The earth shall drink the blood of Duryodhana and Karna, of Dussasana and the wicked Sakuni!  Slaying these in battle and defeating their followers along with their royal allies, will we all install Yudhishthira the just on the throne!  The wicked deserve to be slain!  Verily, this is eternal morality.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “And when on account of the wrongs of Pritha’s sons, Janardana had thus got into a passion, and seemed bent upon consuming ail created things, Arjuna exerted himself to pacify him.  And beholding Kesava angry, Phalguna began to recite the feats achieved in his former lives by that soul of all things, himself immeasurable, the eternal one, of infinite energy, the lord of Prajapati himself, the supreme ruler of the worlds, Vishnu of profound wisdom!’