ed elephant. Bhimasena pierced his sides
with three choice arrows. And the mighty Maniman, on his part, in wrath
taking and flourishing a tremendous mace hurled it at Bhimasena.
Thereupon Bhimasena beset with innumerable shafts sharpened on stones,
hurled that mighty mace in the sky, dreadful, and like unto the
lightning flash. But on reaching the mace those shafts were baffled; and
although discharged with force by that adept at hurling the mace, still
they could not stay its career. Then the mighty Bhima of dreadful
prowess, baffled his (the Rakshasa's) discharge by resorting to his
skill in mace-fighting. In the meanwhile, the intelligent Rakshasa had
discharged a terrible iron club, furnished with a golden shaft. And that
club, belching forth flames and emitting tremendous roars, all of a
sudden pierced Bhima's right arm and then fell to the ground. On being
severely wounded by that club, that bowman, Kunti's son, of immeasurable
prowess, with eyes rolling in ire, took up his mace. And having taken
that iron mace, inlaid with golden plates, which caused the fear of foes
and brought on their defeat, he darted it with speed towards the mighty
Maniman, menacing (him) and uttering shouts. Then Maniman on his part,
taking his huge and blazing dart, with great force discharged it at
Bhima, uttering loud shouts. Thereat breaking the dart with the end of
his mace, that mighty-armed one skilled in mace-fighting, speedily
rushed to slay him, as Garuda (rushed) to slay a serpent. Then all of a
sudden, advancing ahead in the field, that mighty-armed one sprang into
the sky and brandishing his mace hurled it with shouts. And like unto
the thunder-bolt hurled by Indra, that mace like a pest, with the speed
of the wind destroyed the Rakshasa and then fell to the ground. Then all
the creatures saw that Rakshasa of terrible strength slaughtered by
Bhima, even like a bull slain by a lion. And the surviving Rakshasas
seeing him slain on the ground went towards the east, uttering frightful
sounds of distress."

SECTION CLX

Vaisampayana said, "Hearing various sounds resounding in the caves of
the mountain and not seeing Bhimasena, Kunti's son, Ajatasatru and the
twin sons of Madri and Dhaumya and Krishna and all the Brahmanas and the
friends (of the Pandavas), were filled with anxiety. Thereupon,
entrusting Draupadi to the charge of Arshtishena and equipped in their
arms, those valiant and mighty charioteers together began to ascend