“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.’”