Section LXXV

"Vaisampayana said, 'Hearing these words from Bhima, that were fraught with such mildness and that were, as unexpected as if the hills had lost their weight and fire had become cold, Rama’s younger brother Kesava of Sura’s race and mighty arms, wielding the bow called Saranga, laughed aloud, and as if to stimulate Bhima by his words, like the breeze fanning a fire, addressed him who was then so overwhelmed by the impulse of kindness, saying,

'At other times, O Bhimasena, you applaudest war only, desirous of crushing the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra that take delight in the destruction of others. O chastiser of foes, you dost not steep but wakest the whole night, sitting up face downwards. You often utter frightful exclamation of wrath, indicative of the storm within your heart. Inflamed with the fire of your own fury, you sighest, O Bhima with an unquiet heart, like a flame of fire mixed with smoke. Withdrawing from company you liest down breathing hot sighs, like a weak man pressed down by a heavy load. They, who do not know the cause regard you as insane. As an elephant breaking into fragments uprooted trees lying on the ground grunts in rage while trampling them under his feet, so you also, O Bhima, runnest on, breathing deep sighs and shaking the earth under the tread.

Here in the region you takest no delight in company but passest your time in privacy. Night or day, Nothing pleases you so much as seclusion. Sitting apart you sometimes laughest aloud all on a sudden, and sometimes placing your head between your two knees, you continuest in that posture for a long time with closed eyes. At the other times, O Bhima, contracting your brows frequently and biting your lips, you starest fiercely before you. All this is indicative of wrath.

At one time, you had, in the midst of your brothers, grasped the mace, uttering this oath,

'As the sun is seen rising in the east displaying his radiance, and as he truly sets in the west journeying around the Meru, so do I swear that I will certainly slay insolent Duryodhana with this mace of mine, and this oath of mine will never be untrue.'

How then does that same heart of thine, O chastiser of foes, now follow the counsels of peace? Alas, when fear enters your heart, O Bhima, it is certain that the hearts of all who desire war are upset when war becomes actually imminent. Asleep or awake, you behold, O son of Pritha, inauspicious omens. Perhaps, it is this for which you desirest peace. Alas, like a eunuch, you dost not display any sign indicative of manliness in you. You are overwhelmed by panic, and it is for this that your heart is upset.

The heart trembles, your mind is overwhelmed by despair, your thighs tremble, and it is for this that you desirest peace. The hearts of mortals, O Partha, are surely as inconstant as the pods of the Salmali seed exposed to the force of the wind. This frame of your mind is as strange as articulate speech in kine. Indeed, the hearts of your brothers are about to sink in an ocean of despair,—like swimmers in the sea without a raft to rescue them. That you, O Bhimasena, should utter words so unexpected of you is as strange as the shifting of a hill.

Recollecting your own deeds and the race also in which you are born, arise, O Bharata, yield not, to grief, O hero, and be firm. Such langour, O repressor of foes, is not worthy of you, for a Kshatriya never enjoys that which he does not acquire through prowess.'"