thou mayst
not have to renounce the truth already pledged to me, do thou, O hero,
slay Kichaka in secret.' Bhima assuring her said, 'Even today I shall
slay Kichaka together with his friends unknown to others during the
darkness of the night. I shall, O faultless lady, crush, even as an
elephant crusheth a _vela_ fruit,[16] the head of the wicked Kichaka who
wisheth for what is unattainable by him!'"

[16] Some texts read, _Vilwam nagaviodhara--i.e.,_ 'As an
elephant lifts up a vela fruit.'

Vaisampayana continued, "Repairing first to the place of assignation at
night, Bhima sat down, disguising himself. And he waited there in
expectation of Kichaka, like a lion lying in wait for a deer. And
Kichaka, having embellished his person as he chose, came to the
dancing-hall at the appointed time in the hope of meeting Panchali. And
thinking of the assignation, he entered the chamber. And having entered
that hall enveloped in deep gloom, that wretch of wicked soul came upon
Bhima of incomparable prowess, who had come a little before and who was
waiting in a corner. And as an insect approacheth towards a flaming
fire, or a puny animal towards a lion, Kichaka approached Bhima, lying
down in a bed and burning in anger at the thought of the insult offered
to Krishna, as if he were the Suta's Death. And having approached Bhima,
Kichaka possessed by lust, and his heart and soul filled with ecstacy
smilingly said, 'O thou of pencilled eye-brows, to thee I have already
given many and various kinds of wealth from the stores earned by me, as
well as hundred maids and many fine robes, and also a mansion with an
inner apartment adorned with beauteous and lovely and youthful maid
servants and embellished by every kind of sports and amusements. And
having set all those apart for thee, I have speedily come hither. And
all on a sudden, women have begun to praise me, saying, _There is not in
this world any other person like unto thee in beauty and dress_!'
Hearing this, Bhima said, 'It is well that thou art handsome, and it is
well thou praisest thyself. I think, however, that thou hadst never
before this such pleasurable touch! Thou hast an acute touch, and
knowest the ways of gallantry. Skilled in the art of love-making, thou
art a favourite with women. There is none like thee in this world!'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Saying this, that son of Kunti, the
mighty-armed Bhima of terrible prowess, suddenly rose up, and laughingly
said