Bhima Swears a Terrible Oath Against Duhshasana
As Duhshasana tries to strip Draupadi, a miracle preserves her modesty — and Bhima finds his voice. Kneading his hands, trembling with rage, he swears an oath so terrible it delights the heavens: to tear open Duhshasana’s chest and drink his blood.
Duhshasana tugged at Draupadi’s garment. As he pulled, another identical garment appeared. He pulled again, and another appeared. Each time he yanked, a new garment replaced the old, piling up in the middle of the sabha. The assembled kings witnessed this most extraordinary sight and murmured their awe. Duhshasana, exhausted and ashamed, finally sat down.
In the midst of the kings, Bhima kneaded his massive hands together. His lips trembled with a rage so pure it shook his body. He cursed in a voice that filled the hall.
“O kshatriyas! O those who live in this world! Hear these words of mine, never before uttered by any man and never to be uttered in the future.” He called the worlds to witness his oath. “O lords of the earth! Having uttered these words, if I do not act accordingly, may I never tread on the path followed by my forefathers.”
Then he named his target and his intent. “In battle, I will forcibly tear asunder the breast of this evil and misguided one, wretch among the Bharatas, and drink his blood.”
The oath hung in the air — a vow of intimate, visceral vengeance. On hearing it, all the worlds were delighted. They worshipped Bhima a lot and reviled Duhshasana. The promise was now part of the cosmic record, a debt that would one day be collected.