Having said these words unto the royal son of Pandu, the beautiful Krishna approached Bhimasena and said these words of high purpose unto him:  “Remembering the duties of a kshatriya, O Bhima, it behoveth thee to come to my rescue.  Slay that man of sinful deeds like Maghavat slaying Samvara.  There is no one in this world who is equal to thee in prowess.  It is known throughout the world how on an occasion of great calamity thou becamest at the town Varanavata the refuge of all the Parthas.  When again we were seen by Hidimba, it was thou that becamest our refuge in the same way.  Like Maghavat rescuing (his spouse) the daughter of Puloma, thou didst rescue my afflicted self, in Virata’s city, from a great calamity.  Like those great feats, O Partha, that thou didst achieve in former days, slay now, O slayer of foes, the son of Drona and be thou happy!”

Hearing these and other piteous lamentations of the princess, Kunti’s son, Bhimasena, of great might, could not endure them.  He mounted upon his great car adorned with gold and took his beautiful bow with arrow placed on the string.  Making Nakula his charioteer, and resolved upon slaying the son of Drona, he began to stretch his bow and caused his steeds to be urged without delay.  Those steeds, fleet as the wind, thus urged, O tiger among men, proceeded with great speed.  Possessed of great valour and unfading energy, Bhima set out from the Pandava camp and proceeded with great celerity along the track of Ashvatthama’s vehicle.”

12

Vaishampayana said, “After the irresistible Bhimasena had set out, that bull of Yadu’s race, possessed of eyes like lotus-petals, addressed Kuru’s son Yudhishthira, saying, O son of Pandu, this brother of thine, overwhelmed with grief at the slaughter of his sons, proceedeth alone to battle, from desire of slaying the son of Drona.  O bull of Bharata’s race, of all thy brothers, Bhima is thy dearest!  Beholding him fallen into a great danger why dost thou not stir thyself?  The weapon called brahmashira, which that subjugator of hostile towns, Drona, communicated to his son, is capable of consuming the whole world.  The illustrious and highly blessed preceptor, that foremost of all wielders of bows, delighted with Dhananjaya, had given him that very weapon.  Unable to endure it, his only son then begged it of him.  Unwillingly he imparted the knowledge of that weapon to Ashvatthama.  The illustrious Drona knew the restlessness of his son.  Acquainted with all duties, the preceptor laid this command on him, saying, “Even when overtaken by the greatest danger, O child in the midst of battle, thou shouldst never use this weapon, particularly against human beings.”  Even thus the preceptor Drona spoke unto his son.  A little while after he again spoke, saying, “O bull among men, thou wilt not, it seems, walk in the path of the righteous.”  Hearing those bitter words of his sire, the wicked-souled Ashvatthama, in despair of obtaining every kind of prosperity, began in grief to wander over the earth.