Saṃvaraṇa–Tapatī Vivāhaḥ (The Marriage of Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī) — Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva 163
तथापि परिभूयैन प्रेक्षमाणो वृकोदर: । राक्षसं भुझुक्त एवान्नं पाण्डव: परवीरहा
tathāpi paribhūyaiva prekṣamāṇo vṛkodaraḥ | rākṣasaṁ bhuñjukta evānnaṁ pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā ||
Ainda assim, Vṛkodara (Bhīma), fitando o rākṣasa, desprezou-o e continuou a comer. O Pāṇḍava—matador de heróis inimigos—não cessou; com sua compostura, sinalizou destemor e recusou-se a ser provocado a um ato impensado.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights steadiness under provocation: Bhīma’s deliberate calm—continuing to eat while meeting the rākṣasa’s gaze—models fearlessness and self-mastery, refusing to let anger or intimidation dictate action.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma, seeing the rākṣasa, openly disregards him and keeps eating. This contempt and composure enrage the rākṣasa, leading into the next action where he attacks Bhīma from behind.