“Madri’s son, Sahadeva, was speaking thus, when Bhimasena made his appearance, with a mace in his hand, like unto Vasava himself wielding the thunder-bolt.  And here he saw his two brothers and the noble-minded Draupadi (on the shoulders of the demon), and Sahadeva on the ground rebuking the Rakshasa and also that stupid Rakshasa himself deprived of sense by Fate, going round in different directions through bewilderment caused by Destiny.  And finding his brothers and Draupadi being carried off, Bhima of mighty strength was fired with wrath, and addressed the Rakshasa, saying, ’I had ere this found thee out for a wicked wight from thy scrutiny of our weapons; but as I had no apprehension of thee, so I had not slain thee at that time.  Thou wert in the disguise of a Brahmana—­nor didst thou say anything harsh unto us.  And thou didst take delight in pleasing us.  And thou also didst not do us wrong.  And, furthermore, thou wert our guest.  How could I, therefore, slay thee, who wert thus innocent of offence, and who wert in the disguise of a Brahmana?  He that knowing such a one to be even a Rakshasa, slayeth him, goes to hell.  Further, thou canst not be killed before the time cometh.  Surely to-day thou hast reached the fullness of thy time in as much as thy mind hath been thus turned by the wonder-performing Fate towards carrying off Krishna.  By committing thyself to this deed, thou hast swallowed up the hook fastened to the line of Fate.  So like unto a fish in water, whose mouth hath been hooked, how canst thou live to-day?  Thou shall not have to go whither thou intendest to, or whither thou hadst already gone mentally; but thou shall go whither have repaired Vaka and Hidimva.’

“Thus addressed by Bhima, the Rakshasa in alarm put them down; and being forced by Fate, approached for fight.  And with his lips trembling in anger he spake unto Bhima, saying, ’Wretch!  I have not been bewildered; I had been delaying for thee.  To day will I offer oblations of thy blood to those Rakshasas who, I had heard, have been slain by thee in fight’ Thus addressed, Bhima, as if bursting with wrath, like unto Yama himself at the time of the universal dissolution, rushed towards the Rakshasa, licking the corners of his mouth and staring at him as he struck his own arms with the hands.  And seeing Bhima waiting in expectation of fight, the Rakshasa also darted towards him in anger, like unto Vali towards the wielder of the thunderbolt, repeatedly gaping and licking the corners of his mouth.  And when a dreadful wrestling ensued between those two, both the sons of Madri, waxing exceeding wroth rushed forward; but Kunti’s son, Vrikodara, forbade them with a smile and said, ’Witness ye!  I am more than a match for this Rakshasa.  By my own self and by my brothers, and by my merit, and by my good deeds, and by my sacrifices, do I swear that I shall slay this Rakshasa.’  And after this was said, those two heroes, the Rakshasa and Vrikodara challenging each other, caught each other