And when Salya was thus
thrown down and Karna was struck with fear, the other monarchs were all
alarmed. And they hastily surrounded Bhima and exclaimed, 'Surely these
bulls amongst Brahmanas are excellent (warriors)! Ascertain in what race
they have been born and where they abide. Who can encounter Karna, the son
of Radha, in fight, except Rama or Drona, or Kiriti, the son of Pandu? Who
also can encounter Duryodhana in battle except Krishna, the son of Devaki,
and Kripa, the son of Saradwan? Who also can overthrow in battle Salya,
that first of mighty warriors, except the hero Valadeva or Vrikodara, the
son of Pandu, or the heroic Duryodhana? Let us, therefore, desist from
this fight with the Brahmanas. Indeed, Brahmanas, however offending,
should yet be ever protected. And first let us ascertain who these are;
for after we have done that we may cheerfully fight with them.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'And Krishna, having beheld that feat of Bhima,
believed them both to be the son of Kunti. And gently addressing the
assembled monarchs, saying, 'This maiden hath been justly acquired (by the
Brahmana),' he induced them to abandon the fight. Accomplished in battle,
those monarchs then desisted from the fight. And those best of monarchs
then returned to their respective kingdoms, wondering much. And those who
had come there went away saying, 'The festive scene hath terminated in the
victory of the Brahmanas. The princess of Panchala hath become the bride
of a Brahmana.
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