Jarasandha chooses Bhima as his opponent for the duel
Krishna asks Jarasandha which of the three Pandavas he will fight. The king of Magadha selects Bhimasena, prepares for battle according to kshatriya dharma, and rushes at the Pandava like a tidal wave.
Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhima stood before Jarasandha in his court. Krishna, eloquent in speech, addressed the king who had resolved to fight. “O king,” he asked, “with which one of us three have you made up your mind to fight? Who among us should be ready for the battle?”
Jarasandha, the immensely radiant king of Magadha, made his decision. He would fight Bhimasena.
The king’s priest brought forward chief herbs for alleviating pain and restoring consciousness, for Jarasandha was impatient for the fight. A famous and learned brahmana performed the benedictions. In accordance with the dharma of kshatriyas (the warrior code), Jarasandha dressed himself appropriately for single combat. He removed his crown and tied up his hair.
Then he arose. The source text describes the moment: he arose like an ocean that bursts through the shoreline.
The intelligent king spoke to Bhima, whose valour was terrible. “O Bhima,” he said, “I will fight with you. It is better to be vanquished by a superior one.” Having said this, the immensely energetic Jarasandha, conqueror of enemies, rushed at Bhimasena. The comparison given is stark: like the demon Bali once rushed at Shakra, the king of the gods.