Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/483

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ADI PARVA.
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of his head standing erect, of large open mouth and body like unto a mass of dark clouds, and teeth long and sharp-pointed, he was terrible to behold. And Hidimvā, beholding her brother of frightful visage alight from the tree, became very much alarmed, and addressing Bhima said, 'The wicked cannibal is coming hither in wrath! I entreat thee, with thy brothers do as I bid thee! O thou of great courage, endued as I am with the powers of a Rakshasa I am capable of going whithersoever I like. Mount ye on my hips, I will carry ye all through the skies! And, O thou chastiser of all foes, awaken these and thy mother sleeping in comfort. Taking them all on my person I will convey ye through the skies.'

"Bhima then said, 'O thou of fair hips, fear not anything. I am sure that as long as I am here, there is no Rakshasa capable of injuring any of these. O thou of slender waist, I will slay this (cannibal) in thy very sight! This worst of Rakshasas, O timid one, is no worthy antagonist of mine. Neither can all the Rakshasas together bear the strength of my arms. Behold these strong arms of mine, each like unto the trunk of an elephant! Behold also these thighs of mine like unto iron maces and this broad and adamantine chest! O thou beautiful one, thou shalt today behold my prowess like unto that of Indra. O thou of fair hips, contemn me not thinking that I am a man!'

"Hidimvā replied, saying, 'O thou tiger among men, O thou of the beauty of a celestial, I do not certainly hold thee in contempt! But I have seen the prowess that Rakshasas exert upon men.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O Bharata, the wrathful Rakshasa eating human flesh heard those words of Bhima who had been talking in that way. And Hidimva beheld his sister disguised in human form, her head decked with garlands of flowers and her face like the full moon and her eyebrows and nose and eyes and ringlets all of the handsomest description, and her nails and complexion of the most delicate hue, and herself wearing every kind of ornament and attired in fine transparent robes. And the canni-

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