Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c11.65

v2.c11.65

Draupadī’s word was his journey’s food; swiftly ran Bhīma, like the storm-wind at the time of the Parvan days,¹ and the ground shook under his feet. The herds of elephants were terrified by him, swift as the wind; lions, tigers, and antelopes were trodden down by the strong one; great trees were uprooted and dashed to pieces by the mighty one in his headlong course; creepers and climbing plants he tore off along with him in his wild career; loud he roared like the lightning-riven cloud. At this loud din raised by Bhīma the tigers woke, and left their lairs, the forest-dwellers were filled with fear, the birds flew up in terror, and the herds of gazelles fled. Many elephants, tigers, and suchlike beasts fled, others attacked him with loud and angry roars. Then in his rage the son of the wind with the strength of his arm with one elephant put the others to flight, with the lion he put the lions to flight, other beasts with his open hand. Waterfowl terrified by the din flew up in thousands with wet wings, and when the Bharata bull followed after them he saw a very great and pleasant pond with stirring waters,² fanned by golden clumps of banana-trees waving in the wind, and stretching from one bank to the other. Into this pond, studded with many day-lotuses and blue lotuses, the strong one climbed down, and played in it, full of wild strength like a frolicsome elephant. When he went on his way again, the strong Bhīma winded his war shell-trumpet with all his might and with a loud note, and beat on his arms, so that the lands of the world resounded. With the notes of the shell and Bhīmasena’s shouts, and the mighty cracks of his arms, the caves of the mountain seemed to resound. When the lions asleep in the mountain-caves heard this great cracking of his arms as he hit them, like the fall of the thunderbolt, they uttered loud roars. And then the elephants, frightened by the roaring of the lions, started a mighty trumpeting, which filled the mountain.”