“Vaisampayana said, ’When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire of bestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), all those monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at one another, were suddenly filled with wrath.  And they said, ’Passing us by and treating the assembled monarchs as straw this Drupada desireth to bestow his daughter—­that first of women,—­on a Brahmana!  Having planted the tree he cutteth it down when it is about to bear fruit.  The wretch regardeth us not:  therefore let us slay him.  He deserveth not our respect nor the veneration due to age.  Owing to such qualities of his, we shall, therefore, slay this wretch that insulteth all kings, along with his son.  Inviting all the monarchs and entertaining them with excellent food, he disregardeth us at last.  In this assemblage of monarchs like unto a conclave of the celestials, doth he not see a single monarch equal unto himself?  The Vedic declaration is well-known that the Swayamvara is for the Kshatriyas.  The Brahmanas have no claim in respect of a selection of husband by a Kshatriya damsel.  Or, ye kings, if this damsel desireth not to select any one of us as her lord, let us cast her into the fire and return to our kingdoms.  As regards this Brahmana, although he hath, from officiousness or avarice, done this injury to the monarchs, he should not yet be slain; for our kingdoms, lives, treasures, sons, grandsons, and whatever other wealth we have, all exist for Brahmanas.  Something must be done here (even unto him), so that from fear of disgrace and the desire of maintaining what properly belongeth unto each order, other Swayamvaras may not terminate in this way.’

“Having addressed one another thus, those tigers among monarchs endued with arms like unto spiked iron maces, took up their weapons and rushed at Drupada to slay him then and there.  And Drupada beholding those monarchs all at once rushing towards him in anger with bows and arrows, sought, from fear, the protection of the Brahmanas.  But those mighty bowmen (Bhima and Arjuna) of the Pandavas, capable of chastising all foes, advanced to oppose those monarchs rushing towards them impetuously like elephants in the season of rut.  Then the monarchs with gloved fingers and upraised weapons rushed in anger at the Kuru princes, Bhima and Arjuna, to slay them.  Then the mighty Bhima of extraordinary achievements, endued with the strength of thunder, tore up like an elephant a large tree and divested it of its leaves.  And with that tree, the strong-armed Bhima, the son of Pritha, that grinder of foes, stood, like unto the mace-bearing king of the dead (Yama) armed with his fierce mace, near Arjuna that bull amongst men.  And beholding that feat of his brother, Jishnu of extraordinary intelligence, himself also of inconceivable feats, wondered much.  And equal unto Indra himself in achievements, shaking off all fear he stood with his bow ready to receive those assailants.  And