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 ||
Gayunman, si Vṛkodara (Bhīma) ay tumitig sa rākṣasa, hinamak ito, at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Ang Pāṇḍava—tagapagpuksa ng mga bayani ng kaaway—ay hindi tumigil; sa kanyang kapanatagan, ipinamalas niya ang kawalang-takot at ang pagtangging magpadala sa udyok ng padalus-dalos na galaw.
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.