all men endued with strength, that hero possessed of the prowess of a
tiger, that warrior of terrible valour."


SECTION XXIII

Vaisampayana said,--"then that foremost of all speakers, Krishna of
the Yadava race, addressing king Jarasandha who was resolved upon
fighting, said,--'O king, with whom amongst us three dost thou desire
to fight? Who amongst us shall prepare himself for battle (with
thee)?' Thus addressed, the ruler of Magadha, king Jarasandha of great
splendour, expressed his desire for fighting with Bhima. The priest
then, bringing with him the yellow pigment obtained from the cow and
garlands of flowers and other auspicious articles, as also various
excellent medicines for restoring lost consciousness and alleviating
pain, approached Jarasandha, panting for battle. The king Jarasandha,
on whose behalf propitiatory ceremonies with benedictions were
performed by a renowned Brahmana, remembering the duty of a Kshatriya
dressed himself for battle. Taking off his crown and binding his hair
properly, Jarasandha stood up like an ocean bursting its continents.
Then the monarch possessed of terrible prowess, addressing Bhima,
said, 'I will fight with thee. It is better to be vanquished by a
superior person.' And saying this, Jarasandha, that represser of all
foes endued, rushed with great energy at Bhimasena like the Asura Vala
of old who rushed at the chief of the celestials. And the mighty
Bhimasena, on whose behalf the gods had been invoked by Krishna, that
cousin of his, having consulted with advanced towards Jarasandha,
impelled by the desire of fight. Then those tigers among men, those
heroes of great prowess, with their bare arms as their only weapons,
cheerfully engaged themselves in the encounter, each desirous of