“Thus did Dussasana, the son of Dhritarashtra, utter in the hearing of the Pandavas, harsh words of the most cruel import.  And hearing them, the unforbearing Bhima, in wrath suddenly approaching that prince like a Himalayan lion upon a jackal, loudly and chastisingly rebuked him in these words,—­Wicked-minded villain, ravest thou so in words that are uttered alone by the sinful?  Boastest thou thus in the midst of the kings, advanced as thou art by the skill of the king of Gandhara.  As thou piercest our hearts hear with these thy arrowy words, so shall I pierce thy heart in battle, recalling all this to thy mind.  And they also who from anger or covetousness are walking behind thee as thy protectors,—­them also shall I send to the abode of Yama with their descendants and relatives.”

Vaisampayana continued,—­Unto Bhima dressed in deer-skins and uttering these words of wrath without doing any thing, for he could not deviate from the path of virtue, Dussasana abandoning all sense of shame, dancing around the Kurus, loudly said, ‘O cow!  O cow!’

Bhima at this once more said,—­Wretch darest thou, O Dussasana, use harsh words as these?  Whom doth it behove to boast, thus having won wealth by foul means?  I tell thee that if Vrikodara, the son of Pritha, drinketh not thy life-blood, piercing open thy breast in battle, let him not attain to regions of blessedness, I tell thee truly that by slaying the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle, before the very eyes of all the warriors, I shall pacify this wrath of mine soon enough.’”

Vaisampayana continued,—­“And as the Pandavas were going away from the assembly, the wicked king Duryodhana from excess of joy mimiced by his own steps the playful leonine trade of Bhima.  Then Vrikodara, half turning towards the king said, Think not ye fool that by this thou gainest any ascendency over me slay thee shall I soon with all thy followers, and answer thee, recalling all this to thy mind.  And beholding this insult offered to him, the mighty and proud Bhima, suppressing his rising rage and following the steps of Yudhishthira, also spake these words while going out of the Kaurava court, ’I will slay Duryodhana, and Dhananjaya will slay Karna, and Sahadeva will slay Sakuni that gambler with dice.  I also repeat in this assembly these proud words which the gods will assuredly make good, if ever we engage in battle with the Kurus, I will slay this wretched Duryodhana in battle with my mace, and prostrating him on the ground I will place my foot on his head.  And as regards this (other) wicked person—­Dussasana who is audacious in speech, I will drink his blood like a lion.

“And Arjuna said,—­O Bhima, the resolutions of superior men are not known in words only.  On the fourteenth year from this day, they shall see what happeneth.

“And Bhima again said,—­’The earth shall drink the blood of Duryodhana, and Karna, and the wicked Sakuni, and Dussasana that maketh the fourth.’