Arjuna was on way to meet his enemy. He had to pass on a message to Bhima on the way. The latter was busy destroying the Kaurava forces in a pitched battle being fought all alone.
Arjuna’s very presence brought cheers in the Pandava army, more so to his elder brother, Bhima. The two greeted heartily in the middle of the battle field. Arjuna informed Bhima that Yudhishthira was safe and was taking rest in the tent. There was no need for concern on his account. This news gladdened the heart of Bhima. The younger Pandava, then, proceeded with his journey for the historic encounter with Karna.
Bhima against Dussasana
Bhima had already inflicted great damage on the attacking Kaurava forces. It was then that he found Dussasana coming against him. The sight of his arch rival raised Bhima’s fury to new heights. He remembered all the heinous acts the Kauravas had committed against him and his brothers. Dussasana was the main perpetrator of all those crimes. The insult on his dear wife, Draupadi, in the open assembly of the Kauravas came vividly to his mind at that time. It was the same Dussasana who had dragged Draupadi there pulling her all the way by hair. The climax to the insult was when he tried to disrobe Draupadi in front of all who had gathered in the hall. Bhima had sworn openly that day that he would tie her hair with his hands soaked in the blood of the Kaurava who had tormented her.
Bhima decided that the time had come for revenge. He fought with all the hatred that was burning in his heart.
But, Dussasana was not an enemy to be put down that easily. The two fought a pitched battle. Bhima faced some initial reverses from the well marked arrows launched from the Kaurava’s bow pulled to the ear. He soon recovered from the initial shock. Then, he decided to take the drastic step. Bhima jumped down from his chariot and rushed to Dussasana holding his formidable mace in hand. Before Dussasana had any chance of escape he swung the mace against his enemy’s head. The impact was so heavy that the Kaurava fell down in his chariot.
The death of Dussasana
Bhima wasted no time. He pulled his enemy down from the chariot without giving him any chance to recover. His fury had reached such a height that he lost all sense of normal human behaviour. His first savage act was to tear off the two arms of his enemy. He, then, tore the chest of Dussasana who was still struggling for life with his bare hands. Bhima, then, drank the warm blood that oozed out of his enemy’s heart and roared like an animal with its prey. His final act was to chop the head of his enemy with his sword. Bhima then, soaked in the blood of his enemy, announced loudly that he had redeemed his pledge.
People all around watched in disbelief and shook with terror at the savage sight. Soldiers fighting on the Kaurava side started to flee in panic, thinking that it was a demon had attacked the Kaurava prince. Even Karna, who happened to watch the scene from a distance, was horror stricken.
It is not clear whether Bhima, indeed, tied the hair of Draupadi with his hands stained with the blood of the evil Dussasana. As far as Bhima was concerned he had kept his word. The task remained with him was to kill the remaining sons of Dhritarashtra, including Duryodhana. We shall learn about it only much later.
Meanwhile, Arjuna was proceeding to meet his main foe, Karna. We shall learn about their encounter in the next episode.
