Shloka 14
Saṃvaraṇa–Tapatī Vivāhaḥ (The Marriage of Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī) — Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva 163
अमर्षेण तु सम्पूर्ण: कुन्तीपुत्रं वृकोदरम् जघान पृष्ठे पाणिभ्यामुभाभ्यां पृष्ठत: स्थित:
amarṣeṇa tu sampūrṇaḥ kuntīputraṃ vṛkodaram jaghāna pṛṣṭhe pāṇibhyām ubhābhyāṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ sthitaḥ | tato hi śatruvīrāṇāṃ saṃhārakaro pāṇḍunandano bhīmasenaḥ tasya rākṣasasya ālokya tiraskṛtya tad annaṃ bhakṣayann eva tiṣṭhati | atha sa atyantam amarṣeṇa bharitaḥ kuntīnandanasya bhīmasenasya pṛṣṭhataḥ sthitvā ubhābhyāṃ hastābhyāṃ tasya pṛṣṭhe prāharat ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Tomado de ira, o rākṣasa pôs-se atrás e golpeou as costas de Vṛkodara (Bhīma), filho de Kuntī, com ambas as mãos. Contudo Bhīmasena—destruidor de campeões inimigos e filho de Pāṇḍu—fitou o rākṣasa com desprezo e continuou a comer aquela comida. Então o demônio, ainda mais enfurecido, voltou a ficar atrás de Bhīma e novamente desferiu golpes em suas costas com as duas mãos.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights heroic steadiness under provocation: Bhīma refuses to be psychologically dominated by sudden violence, showing contempt for intimidation and maintaining composure—an ethic of inner strength that precedes outward victory.
A rākṣasa, enraged, attacks Bhīma from behind, striking his back with both hands. Bhīma merely looks at him with scorn and keeps eating, which further inflames the demon, who again strikes him from behind.