Draupadi Incites Bhima to Ascend the Mountain
A giant serpent is carried away by a suparna, shaking the mountain. A wind brings five-coloured blossoms near the river. Draupadi sees them and tells Bhima she wants to see the mountain top — protected by his strength. Her words madden him into action.
One day, a suparna — a great bird — suddenly carried away a handsome giant serpent that lived in the mountain's lake. The mighty mountain began to tremble. Large trees were torn down. The Pandavas and all the beings around them witnessed this extraordinary sight.
Then, from the mountain's peak, a wind blew toward them. It carried many different kinds of beautiful and fragrant flowers — divine blossoms with five different colours. The Pandavas and Draupadi saw them fall near the river Ashvaratha.
Draupadi found Bhima seated at a secluded spot on the mountain. She spoke to him.
"As a result of the forceful wind generated from the suparna's great force, five-coloured blossoms have been dropped near the river Ashvaratha. All the beings have witnessed this. Your great-souled brother — always driven by truth — once restrained gandharvas, serpents, rakshasas, and even Vasava himself, in Khandava. After killing the ones who resort to maya, he obtained the bow Gandiva."
She paused. Then she turned the comparison on him.
"You also possess enormous energy and great strength of arms. You are indomitable and irresistible, the equal of Shatakratu in your strength. Let all the rakshasas be terrified of the force and strength of your arms. O Bhimasena! They will leave this mountain and flee in the ten directions. Then, devoid of all fear and delusion, let all your well-wishers behold this supreme mountain, auspicious and adorned with colourful flowers. O Bhima! This thought has been in my mind for a long time. Protected through the strength of your arms, I wish to see the top of this mountain."
Bhima was maddened by her words. He could not stand it — like an excellent bull that has been beaten. His gait was like that of a lion or a bull. He was handsome and noble, his complexion like gold, spirited and strong, powerful and proud. His eyes were red, his shoulders wide. He was like a maddened elephant in his valour. His teeth were like a lion's, his shoulders expansive, his height that of a young shala tree. His neck was like a conch shell, his arms huge.
He grasped his gold-plated bow, his sword, and his quivers. Like an insolent lion, or like a maddened elephant, the strong one rushed toward the mountain — free from fear or delusion. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 454