with juicy secretions trickling adown.  The elder brother of Dhananjaya, then, that crusher of foes, taking up his hero-slaying mace made of iron and producing a sound loud as that of the thunder-bolt, struck his adversary with great force.  Struck by Bhimasena, thy son fell down, his frame trembling all over, like a gigantic Sala in the forest, decked with flowers, uprooted by the violence of the tempest.  Beholding thy son prostrated on the earth, the Pandavas became exceedingly glad and uttered loud cries.  Recovering his consciousness, thy son then rose, like an elephant from a lake.  That ever wrathful monarch and great car-warrior then careering with great skill, struck Bhimasena who was standing before him.  At this, the son of Pandu, with weakened limbs, fell down on the earth.

“Having by his energy prostrated Bhimasena on the ground, the Kuru prince uttered a leonine roar.  By the descent of his mace, whose violence resembled that of the thunder, he had fractured Bhima’s coat of mail.  A loud uproar was then heard in the welkin, made by the denizens of heaven and the Apsaras.  A floral shower, emitting great fragrance, fell, rained by the celestials.  Beholding Bhima prostrated on the earth and weakened in strength, and seeing his coat of mail laid open, a great fear entered the hearts of our foes.  Recovering his senses in a moment, and wiping his face which had been dyed with blood, and mustering great patience, Vrikodara stood up, with rolling eyes steadying himself with great effort.”

58

“Sanjaya said, ’Beholding that fight thus raging between those two foremost heroes of Kuru’s race, Arjuna said unto Vasudeva, “Between these two, who, in thy opinion, is superior?  Who amongst them hath what merit?  Tell me this, O Janardana.”

“’Vasudeva said, “The instruction received by them hath been equal.  Bhima, however, is possessed of greater might, while the son of Dhritarashtra is possessed of greater skill and hath laboured more.  If he were to fight fairly, Bhimasena will never succeed in winning the victory.  If, however, he fights unfairly he will be surely able to slay Duryodhana.  The Asuras were vanquished by the gods with the aid of deception.  We have heard this.  Virochana was vanquished by Shakra with the aid of deception.  The slayer of Vala deprived Vritra of his energy by an act of deception.  Therefore, let Bhimasena put forth his prowess, aided by deception!  At the time of the gambling, O Dhananjaya, Bhima vowed to break the thighs of Suyodhana with his mace in battle.  Let this crusher of foes, therefore, accomplish that vow of his.  Let him with deception, slay the Kuru king who is full of deception.  If Bhima, depending upon his might alone, were to fight fairly, king Yudhishthira will have to incur great danger.  I tell thee again, O son of Pandu, listen to me.  It is through the fault of king Yudhishthira alone that danger hath once more overtaken us!  Having achieved great feats by the slaughter of Bhishma and