Sahadeva Challenges Jatasura to Battle
Yudhishthira has slowed the rakshasa Jatasura, but Sahadeva sees the creature is confused and urges his brother to let them fight. He declares that a kshatriya should either triumph or die in battle — and vows that if the rakshasa is still alive at sunset, Sahadeva will no longer call himself a kshatriya.
Yudhishthira, being carried off by the rakshasa, spoke to Nakula and Draupadi: "Do not be frightened of this stupid rakshasa. I have robbed him of his speed. Bhima, the mighty-armed son of Pavana (the wind god), cannot be far away. He will arrive in an instant, and the rakshasa will have no future."
Sahadeva saw that the rakshasa was deluded — his intelligence clouded, his path uncertain. He spoke to Yudhishthira.
"O king! Nothing brings greater merit to a kshatriya than to fall in the field of battle and give up his life — or to triumph over an enemy. Let us fight him in the field of battle. Either he will kill us, or we will kill him. The time and the place are right. The time has come to show the dharma of kshatriyas. Whether we triumph or whether we are slain, we will attain the supreme objective."
Then he turned to the rakshasa directly.
"If this rakshasa is still alive when the sun sets, I will no longer be able to say that I am a kshatriya. O rakshasa! Stop! I am Pandava Sahadeva. Either kill me and take them today — or fall senseless."
While he was speaking, Bhimasena appeared by chance. The mighty-armed one looked like Vasava (Indra) with his vajra (thunderbolt). He saw his two brothers and the famous Draupadi — and Sahadeva on the ground, challenging the rakshasa. He saw the stupid rakshasa, who had lost his path, his intelligence robbed by time, driven by destiny, roaming around here and there. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 451