Gadayuddha Parva — The encounter between Bhima and Duryodhana and Baladeva's presence there

Vaishampayana said "Thus, O Janamejaya, did that terrible battle take place. King Dhritarashtra, in great sorrow, said thus about it.

Dhritarashtra said Beholding Rama approach that spot, when the mace-fight was about to take place, how, O Sanjaya, did my son fight with Bhima?'

Sanjaya said Beholding the presence of Rama, your valiant son Duryodhana of mighty arms, desirous of battle, was gladdened.

Seeing Vala, king Yudhishthira, O Bharata, stood up and duly and gladly honored him. He gave him a seat and enquired after his welfare.

Rama then answered Yudhisthira, in these sweet and righteous words, viz.-I have heard it said by the Rishis, O best of kings, that Kurukshetra is a highly sacred and sindestroying spot, equal to heaven itself, worshipped of gods and Rishis and great Brahmanas.

Those men that renounce their bodies, while engaged in battle on this field, are sure to live in heaven with Shakra himself.

I shall for this, O king, speedily proceed to Samantapancka. In the celestial region that spot is known as the northern (sacrificial) altar of Brahman, the Lord of all creatures.

He that breathes his last in battle on that eternal and most sacred of spots in the three worlds, will surely obtain heaven,

Saying-So be it-O king, Kunti's brave son, lord Yudhishthira, proceeded towards Samantapanchaka.

King Duryodhana also, taking up his gigantic mace, angrily went on foot with the Pandavas.

While going thus, armed with mace and clad in armour, the celestial in the sky applauded him, saying-Excellent, excellent! Sceing the Kuru king, the Charanas became filled with delight. Surrounding by the Pandavas, your son, the Kuru king proceeded, like an infuriate elephant. All the points of the compass were filled with the blare of conchs and the sounds of drums and the leonine roars of heroes.

Proceeding with face westwards to the appointed spot, with your son (in their midst), they spread themselves on all sides when they reached it.

That was an excellent Tirtha on the southern side of the Sarasvati. The ground there was not sandy, and was therefore, selected for the battle.

Clad in armour, and armed with his gigantic thick mace Bhima, O king, assumed the form of mighty Garuda.

With head-gear on his head, and wearing a golden armour licking the corners of his mouth, O king, with eyes redened in wrath, and breathing hard, your son on that field, O king, shone like the golden Sumeru.

Those two heroes Bhima and Duryodhana, wearing armour appeaered like two elephants with anger, in battle field.

O king! In the midst of war-field both the brothers, foremost among the men were looked like a rising moon and the sun.

O king! Both angrily with burning eyes wishing kill cach other, they looked like two infuriate elephants.

Taking up his mace, with cheerful mind, the highly energetic king Duryodhana, the son of Kuru, breathing repeatedly and looking at Bhimasena, challenged him to encounter like an elephant challenging a rival elephant.

Likewise the brave Bhima, taking up his adamantine mace, challenged the king like a lion challenging a lion. or or

Duryodhana and Bhima, with uplifted maces, shone in that battle like two mountains with tall sumınits.

Both of them were highly worked up with anger; both were possessed of awful prowess; in mace encounter both were disciples of Rohini's intelligent son; both resembled each other in their feat and looked like Maya and Vasava. Endued with great strength, both resembled Varuna in achievements. Each resembling Vasudeva, Rama Vishravana's son (Ravana), they appeared O king, like Madhu and Kaitabha.

They looked like Sunda and Upasunda or Rama and Ravana or Bali and Sugriva.

Those two of foes appeared like Kala and Mrityu. They then ran towards each other like two infuriate elephants; elated with pride and maddened with passion in the season of autumn and longing for the companionship of a she-elephant in her season. Each appeared to vomit upon the other the poison of his wrath like two fiery serpents.

Those two chastisers of foes looked angrily upon each other. Both were foremost of Bharata's race, endued with great prowess.

In mace encounters those two scorchers of foes were invincible like lion. Those heroes were unbearable like two tigers having teeth and claws. They were like two uncrossable and furious oceans, or like two angry Suns risen for consuming everything. Those two powerful car-warriors looked like an Eastern and a Western cloud agitated by the wind, roaring awfully and pouring torrents of rain in the rainy season. Those two great and powerful heroes, both possessed of great effulgence, looked like two Suns risen at the hour of the Universal dissolution.

Looking like two enraged tigers or like two roaring masses of clouds, they became glad like two manned lions. Like two angry or two blazing fires, those two great ones appeared like two mountains with tall summits. With lips swelling with rage and looking upon each other those two heroes, armed with maces, met each other. Both were elated with joy and each regarded the other as a worthy opponent.

Duryodhana and Vrikodara then resembled two good horses neighing at each other, or two elephants grunting at each other.

Those two foremost of men then shone like a couple of Daityas swelling with pride. The Duryodhana, O king, said these haughty words unto Yudhishthira in the midst of his brothers and of the great Krishna and Rama.

Protected by the Kaikeyas and the Srinjayas and the great Panchalas, behold you with all these leading kings, seated together, this encounter that is about to take place between me and Bhima!-Hearing these words of Duryodhana, they did as requested. Then those kings sat down and shone like celestials in heaven.

In the midst of that assemblage the mightyarmed and beautiful elder brother of Keshava, O king, as he sat down, was all adored by all around him.

In the midst of those kings, Baladeva clad in blue raiment and possessed of a fair complexion shone like the full moon surrounded in the night by thousands of stars.

Meanwhile those two heroes, O king, both armed with maces, and both unbearable by foes, stood there, exasperating each other with fierce speeches.

Having addressed each other with unpleasant words, those two heroes of Kuru's race stood, looking angrily upon each other, like Shakra and Vritra in fight."