was dragged
to the assembly while in my season, and having only a single cloth on!
Fie on that _Gandiva_ which none else can string save Arjuna and Bhima
and thyself, O slayer of Madhu! Fie on the strength of Bhima, and fie on
the prowess of Arjuna, since, O Krishna, Duryodhana (after what he had
done) hath drawn breath even for a moment! He it is, O slayer of Madhu,
who formerly drove the guileless Pandavas with their mother from the
kingdom, while they were children still engaged in study and the
observance of their vows. It is that sinful wretch, who, horrible to
relate, mixed in Bhima's food fresh and virulent poison in full dose.
But, O Janardana, Bhima digested that poison with the food, without
sustaining any injury, for, O best of men and mighty-armed one, Bhima's
days had not been ended! O Krishna, it is Duryodhana who at the house
standing by the banyan called _Pramana_ bound Bhima sleeping
unsuspectingly, and casting him into the Ganges returned to the city.
But the powerful Bhimasena the son of Kunti, possessed of mighty arms,
on waking from sleep, tore his bonds and rose from the water. It is
Duryodhana, who caused venomous black-cobras to bite all over the body
of Bhimasena, but that slayer of foes died not. Awaking, the son of
Kunti smashed all the serpents and with his left hand killed (the agent,
_viz_.) the favourite charioteer of Duryodhana. Again, while the
children were asleep at Varanavata with their mother, it is he who set
fire to the house intending to burn them to death. Who is there capable
of doing such an act? It was then that the illustrious Kunti, overtaken
by this calamity, and surrounded by the flames, began to cry out in
terror, speaking to the children, "Alas, I am undone! How shall we
escape from this fire today! Alas, I shall meet with destruction with my
little children!" Then Bhima, possessed of mighty arms, and prowess like
unto the force of the wind, comforted his illustrious mother as also his
brothers, saying, "Like that king of birds, Garuda, the son of Vinata, I
will spring up into the air. We have no fear from this fire." And then
taking his mother on his left flank, and the king in his right, and the
twins on each shoulder, and Vibhatsu on his back, the mighty Vrikodara,
thus taking all of them, at one leap cleared the fire and delivered his
mother and brother from the conflagration. Setting out that night with
their renowned mother, they came near the forest of Hidimva. And