fe the mighty-armed
Bhimasena stood motionless like a rock, with his mace and sword and bow
in his hands. Then he blew his shell making the down of his adversaries
stand erect; and twanging his bow-string, and striking his arms with the
hands he unnerved all the creatures. Thereat with their hairs standing
erect, the Yakshas and Rakshasas began to rush towards the Pandavas, in
the direction of those sounds. And taken by the arms of the Yakshas and
Rakshasas the flamed maces and clubs and swords and spears and javelins
and axes, and when, O Bharata, the fight ensued between the Rakshasas
and Bhima, the latter by arrows cut off the darts, javelins and axes of
those possessing great powers of illusion, and he of exceeding strength
with arrows pierced the bodies of the roaring Rakshasas, both of those
that were in the sky, and of those that remained on the earth. And Bhima
of exceeding strength was deluged with the mighty sanguine rain sprung
from the bodies of the Rakshasas with maces and clubs in their hands and
flowing on all sides from their persons. And the bodies and hands of the
Yakshas and Rakshasas were seen to be struck off by the weapon
discharged by the might of Bhima's arms. And then all the creatures saw
the graceful Pandava densely surrounded by the Rakshasas, like unto the
Sun enveloped by clouds. And even as the Sun surrounds everything with
his rays, that mighty-armed and strong one of unfailing prowess, covered
all with arrows destroying foes. And although menacing and uttering
yells, the Rakshasas did not see Bhima embarrassed. Thereupon, with
their bodies mangled, the Yakshas afflicted by fear, Bhimasena began to
utter frightful sounds of distress, throwing their mighty weapons. And
terrified at the wielder of a strong bow, they fled towards the southern
quarter, forsaking their maces and spears and swords and clubs and axes.
And then there stood, holding in his hands darts and maces, the
broad-chested and mighty-armed friend of Vaisravana, the Rakshasa named
Maniman. And that one of great strength began to display his mastery and
manliness. And seeing them forsake the fight, he addressed them with a
smile, 'Going to Vaisravana's abode, how will ye say unto that lord of
wealth, that numbers have been defeated by a single mortal in battle?'
Having said this unto them that Rakshasa, taking in his hands clubs and
javelins and maces, set out and rushed towards the Pandava. And he
rushed in amain like a madden