"Hearing these words, Hidimva said,-'What need is there. O man, this thy vaunt and this thy boast? Accomplish all this first, and then mayest chou vaunt indeed! Therefore, delay thou not. Thou knowest thyself to be strong and endued with prowess, so thou shale rightly estimate thy strength to-day in thy encounter with me. Until that, I will not slay these (thy brothers) I Let them sleep comfortably. But I will, as thou art a fool and the utterer of evil speeches, slay thee first. After drinking thy blood, I will stay these also, and then last of all, this (sister of mine) that hath done me an injury !'
Vaisampayana continued, -"Saying this, the canvibal, extending his arms ran in wrath towards Bhimasena, that chastiser of foes. Then Bhima of terrible prowess quickly seized, as though in sport, with great force, the extended arms of the Rakshasa who had rushed at him. Then seizing the struggling Rakshasa with violence, Bhima dragged him from that spot full thirty two cubits like a lion dragging a little animal. Then the Raksbasa, thus made to feel the weight of Bhima's strength, became Very angry and clasping the Pandava, sent forth a terrible yell. The mighty Bhima then dragged with force the Rakshasa to a greater dis. tance, lest his yells should awaken his brothers sleeping in comfort. Clasping and dragging each other with great force, both Hidimva and Bhimasena put forth their prowess, Fighting like two full grown elephants mad with rage, they then began to break down the trees and tear the creepers that grew around. And at those sounds, those tigers among men (the sleeping Pandavas) woke up with their mother, and saw Hidimva sitting before them."
Thus ends the hundred and fifty-fifth section in the Hidimya-badba Parva of the Adi Parva.
SECTION CLVIL
(Hidimva-Badha Parva cuntinued)
Vaisampayana said, "Roused from sleep, those tigers among men, with their mother, beholding the extraordinary beauty of Hidim va, were filled with wonder. And Kunti, gazing at her with wonder at her beauty, addressed her sweetly and gave her every assurance. She asked, -'O thou of the splendour of a daughter of the celestials, whose art thou and who att thou? O thou of the fairest complexion, on what business has thou come hither and whence hast thou come? If thou art the deity of these woods or an Apsara, tell me all regarding thyself and
46 DW
