A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.265.4

c5.265.4

The Rāja of Virāta was defeated and made prisoner, but Bhīma pursued Su-sarman and overcame him, rescued the prisoner, and made the conqueror captive. In the great battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas, Bhīma took a very prominent part. On the first day he fought against Bhīshma; on the second he slew the two sons of the Rāja of Magadha, and after them their father, killing him and his elephant at a single blow. In the night between the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the battle, Bhīma fought with Drona until the rising of the sun; but that redoubted warrior fell by the hand of Dhrishta-dyumna, who continued the combat till noonday. On the seventeenth day he killed Duh-sāsana, and drank his blood, as he had long before vowed to do, in retaliation of the insults Duh-sāsana had offered to Draupadī. On the eighteenth and last day of the battle Dur-yodhana fled and hid himself in a lake. When he was discovered, he would not come out until he had received a promise that he should not have to fight with more than one man at a time. Even then he delayed until he was irritated by the abuse and the taunts of the Pāndavas. Bhīma and Dur-yodhana fought as usual with clubs. The battle was long and furious; the parties were equally matched, and Bhīma was getting the worst of it, when he struck an unfair blow which smashed Dur-yodhana’s thigh, and brought him to the ground. Thus he fulfilled his vow and avenged Draupadī.