भीम उवाच
मा भैस् त्वं विपुलश्रोणि नैष कश् चिन् मयि स्थिते ॥
अहम् एनं हनिष्यामि प्रेक्षन्त्यास् ते सुमध्यमे ॥
नायं प्रतिबलो भीरु राक्षसापसदो मम ॥
सोढुं युधि परिस्पन्दम् अथवा सर्वराक्षसाः ॥
पश्य बाहू सुवृत्तौ मे हस्तिहस्तनिभाव् इमौ ॥
ऊरू परिघसंकाशौ संहतं चाप्य् उरो मम ॥
विक्रमं मे यथेन्द्रस्य साद्य द्रक्ष्यसि शोभने ॥
मावमंस्थाः पृथुश्रोणि मत्वा माम् इह मानुषम् ॥
bhīma uvāca
mā bhais tvaṃ vipulaśroṇi naiṣa kaś cin mayi sthite ||
aham enaṃ haniṣyāmi prekṣantyās te sumadhyame ||
nāyaṃ pratibalo bhīru rākṣasāpasado mama ||
soḍhuṃ yudhi parispandam athavā sarvarākṣasāḥ ||
paśya bāhū suvṛttau me hastihastanibhāv imau ||
ūrū parighasaṃkāśau saṃhataṃ cāpy uro mama ||
vikramaṃ me yathendrasya sādya drakṣyasi śobhane ||
māvamaṃsthāḥ pṛthuśroṇi matvā mām iha mānuṣam ||
Bhima said: "Do not fear, O broad-hipped one: he is nothing while I stand here; I shall kill him before your eyes, O slender-waisted one. He is no match for me, O timid one, this vile rakshasa, to withstand my onslaught in battle -- nor could all the rakshasas together. Look at these rounded arms of mine, like elephants' trunks, at my thighs, like iron maces, and my solid chest; my valor, like that of Indra, you shall now see, O fair one -- do not disdain me, taking me for a mere man."
198e25d3d5ee · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:03:09 PM UTC
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Here Bhima shows the fearlessness that shields the weak. It is telling that he first calms the terrified rakshasi: 'fear not while I stand' -- the strong reassures the timid. Here is revealed the purpose for which strength is given: to instill in the defenseless not fear but peace. Telling too is that Bhima neither flees nor hides but meets danger face to face: the valor of the righteous does not seek safety in flight when protection is possible. Telling as well is his word 'do not take me for a mere man': it is no empty boast but points to a strength granted from above (he is the son of Vayu). So the text shows in Bhima a protector whose might serves to shield -- even one who but yesterday belonged to the enemy's camp.