My eight teeth, so sharp-pointed and incapable of being resisted by
any substance, I shall, today, after a long time, put into the most
delicious flesh. Attacking the human throat and even opening the veins, I
shall (today) drink a plentiful quantity of human blood, hot and fresh and
frothy. Go and ascertain who these are, lying asleep in these woods. The
strong scent of man pleaseth my nostrils. Slaughtering all these men,
bring them unto me. They sleep within my territory. Thou needest have no
fear from them. Do my bidding soon, for we shall then together eat their
flesh, tearing off their bodies at pleasure. And after feasting to our
fill on human flesh we shall then dance together to various measures!'
"Thus addressed by Hidimva in those woods, Hidimva, the female cannibal,
at the command of her brother, went, O bull of Bharata's race, to the spot
where the Pandavas were. And on going there, she beheld the Pandavas
asleep with their mother and the invincible Bhimasena sitting awake. And
beholding Bhimasena unrivalled on earth for beauty and like unto a
vigorous Sala tree, the Rakshasa woman immediately fell in love with him,
and she said to herself, 'This person of hue like heated gold and of
mighty arms, of broad shoulders as the lion, and so resplendent, of neck
marked with three lines like a conch-shell and eyes like lotus-petals, is
worthy of being my husband. I shall not obey the cruel mandate of my
brother. A woman's love for her husband is stronger than her affection for
her brother.
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