Intro
The story of Bhima’s encounter with the brother and sister cannibals Hidimba and Hidimbi is told in hidimba parva. This story is the genesis of Ghatotkacha.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/hidimba
As It Rhymes
Chapter 153
1.
Vaishampayana said,
The cannibal Hidimba eavesdropped from the limbs of the tree.Â
Thus Hidimba came to know about his sister Hidimbi’s deceit.
2.
Hidimba’s arms were made of ore iron.
Hidimba’s hair blazed red crayon.
3.
Hidimba’s pungence hung like heavy rain.
Hidimba snarled at his sister’s affinity for Bhima.
4.
Hidimba’s wicked wrath for his sister got twisted.
Hidimba could not stand that she did not listen.
5.
Hidimba heard her ply feminine wile.
Hidimba hissed with snarly guile.
6.
Bhima’s mother and brothers were fast asleep.
Hidimba begged Bhima to wake them for fast retreat.
7-8.
Bhima said,
‘I stand my post, until a better man bests the host.’
9-11.
Bhima slapped his arms, chest and thighs.
Bhima wound his neck.
‘Feast your eyes’, Bhima flexed.
12.
Vaishampayana said,
The wrathful cannibal Hidimba heard Bhimasena boasting.
Hidimba saw the six still sleeping.
13-14.
Hidimbi’s infatuation with Bhima’s charms drove Hidimba mad with distrust.
‘She straightened her brow and fixed gems in her hair’, Hidimba muttered in disgust at Hidimbi’s lust.Â
15.
Hidimba grew wrathful.
Hidimba was resentful.
16.
Hidimba saw Hidimbi tease her hair.
Hidimba saw Hidimbi freeze her stare.
17.
Hidimba cursed her foolish handles.
Hidimba resolved to make her an example.
18.
Hidimba muttered in rage,
‘You betray our lineage.
19.
Look how she preens and prances.
I will kill her out of respect for our ancestors.’
20.
Hidimba’s teeth clenched.
Hidimba’s iron arms were drenched.
21.
Hidimba charged at his sister in the dark.
Bhima stepped between them with his arms like the fins of a shark.Â
22.
Bhimasena smiled at the cannibal named Hidimba.
Bhima said,
‘Hey Hidimba - it’s me you want to screw.’
23.
‘Tell me, do they look happy sleeping to you?
Come on you stupid wretch, let’s take our fight out of view.Â
24.
You should not kill women.
You are ill within.
25.
She came onto me in the dark.
Cupid must have hit her hardest.
26.
She has made wild propositions if I am being honest.
But these positions are the curse of beings with heart.
27.
She wants me by demand.
What can I say in response?
28.
You evil wretch, I won’t witness you kill a woman by hand.Â
Before her I stand.Â
29.
Your cannibal madness for eating death is at an end.
Your intoxication pollution by your head heads for destruction.
30.
Today your limbs will be torn.
Your torment overturn.
31.
A cannibal’s death in the trees.
You were once formerly seen.
32.
Today your sister betrayed your trust.
Like a lion drags an elephant.
33.
Your death will remove a curse from this forest.
After you are gone men will restore the fruitive element.’
34-37.
Hidimba said,
‘I agree, let them keep asleep.
Once we are done I will peep the sheep.
Now shut up and do your piece.’
38.
The two stopped talking and they clashed arms like swords.
Bhimasena gripped the cannibal with a death grasp.
39.
Hidimba melted under Bhima’s terrible force.
Bhima laughed, swiftly bringing Hidimba down into tall grass.
40.
Bhima dragged Hidimba by the hair roughly over ground like a lion drags a deer through the brush.
Cuts opened on Hidimba’s arms and legs began to gush.
41.
The cannibal felt a surge of strength kick in by survival instinct.
Hidimba screamed, putting up fierce resistance.Â
42.
Bhima again mauled Hidimba roughly over the ground.
‘Be silent! You’ll wake them! Don’t make a sound!’
Bhima hissed with considerate persistence.
43.
Hidimba struggled desperately to get free.
Bhima and Hidimba tumbled through vine and tree.
44.
The forest floor roared like a battlefield where they rolled.
The two frothed and foamed like oceans clashing.
45.
The din awoke the other Pandavas from their dreams.
The Pandavas and their mother wiped sleep from their eyes to see Hidimbi.
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana, ibid.
Translation Notes
