वैशम्पायन उवाच तथोक्तो वासुदेवेन नित्यमन्युरमर्षणः। सदश्ववत् समाधावद् बभाषे तदनन्तरम्॥
Vaishampayana said Thus spoken by the son of Vasudeva, the one who was ever wrathful and who was accustomed to return insults immediately woke up like a good horse and instantly said reply-
भीमसेन उवाच अन्यथा मां चिकीर्षन्तमन्यथा मन्यसेऽच्युत। प्रणीतभावमत्यर्थं युधि सत्यपराक्रमम्॥
Bhimasena said You regard me, who desire to act in a certain way, in a different light, O Acchyuta. I am in an exceedingly cheerful state of mind at the prospect of war. I am of true prowess.
वेत्सि दाशार्ह सत्यं मे दीर्घकालं सहोषितः। उत वा मां न जानासि प्लवन् ह्रद इवाप्लवे॥
You know the truth of this, you of the Dasharha race, owing to your living for a long time with me; or it is possible that you do not know me like one swimming in a lake not knowing its depth.
तस्मादनभिरूपाभिर्वाग्भिर्मा त्वं समर्छसि। कथं हि भीमसेनं मां जानन् कश्चन माधव॥
For this reason you find fault with me in words that I dot deserve. Who, knowing me to be Bhimasena.
ब्रूयादप्रतिरूपाणि यथा मां वक्तुमर्हसि। तस्मादिदं प्रवक्ष्यामि वचनं वृष्णिनन्दन॥
Would dare speak in such unbecoming language as you have deemed fit to address me? Therefore, O you delighted of the Vrishni race, I tell you these words.
आत्मनः पौरुषं चैव बलं च न समं परैः। सर्वथानार्यकमैतत् प्रशंसा स्वयमात्मनः॥
Regarding the manly strength of myself and the might, which are not equalled by my enemies. At all times this is a dishonourable act for a man to praise himself.
अतिवादापविद्धस्तु वक्ष्यामि बलमात्मनः। पश्यमे रोदसी कृष्ण ययोरासन्निमाः प्रजाः॥
Yet being pierced with excessive blame, I speak out of my own strength. Look at these two, O Krishna, the earth and the heaven, from which have proceeded all creatures.
अचले चाप्रतिष्ठे चाप्यनन्ते सर्वमातरौ। यदीमे सहसा क्रुद्ध समेयातां शिले इव॥
Which are immovable, immense . and without end and which are, as it were, the mothers of all beings. If these two, out of anger, suddenly come against each other like two mountains,
अहमेते निगृह्णीयां बाहुभ्यां सचराचरे। पश्यैतदन्तरं बाह्वोर्महापरिघयोरिवा॥
Then I could by my two arms keep them apart with all their mobile and immobile beings. Behold the distance between the two arms, which coming together are like a great circle.
य एतत् प्राप्य मुच्येत न तं पश्यामि पूरुषम्। हिमवांश्च समुद्रश्च वज्री वा बलभित् स्वयम्॥
I do not see the man who can free himself after once getting within them. The Himavat, the ocean and the wielder of the thunder-bolt and the grinder of Bala himself.:
मयाभिपन्नं त्रायेरन् बलमास्थाय न त्रयः। युद्धार्हान् क्षत्रियान् सर्वान् पाण्डवेष्वाततायिनः॥
These three together cannot by their joint strength rescue a man in my power. All the Kshatriyas, who are fit for battle and who oppose the Pandavas.
अधः पादतलेनैतानधिष्ठास्यामि भूतले। न हि त्वं नाभिजानासि मम विक्रममच्युत॥
I shall fell them down to the earth and trample them with the soles of my feet. You, O Acchyuta, are not unfamiliar with my strength.
यथा मया विनिर्जित्य राजानो वशगाः कृताः। अथ चेन्मा न जानासि सूर्यस्येवोद्यतः प्रभाम्॥ विगाढे युधि सम्बाधे वेत्स्यसे मां जनार्दन। परुपैराक्षिपसि किं व्रणं पूतिमिवोन्नयन्॥
And the manner in which after conquering the kings, brought them under subjection. If it is a fact that you do not know my strength, which is like the resplendent sun, you will know then me in the fierce turmoil of battle, O Janardana. You cause me pain by your harsh words like the pain felt in opening a long standing boil.
यथामति ब्रवीम्येतद् विद्धि मामधिकं ततः। द्रष्टासि युधि सम्बाधे प्रवृत्ते वैशसेऽहनि॥
Know me to be possessed of greater strength than what I have described of my own will. On the day in which the fierce battle begins, you will see me.
मया प्रणुन्नान् मातङ्गान् रथिनः सादिनस्तथा। तथा नरानभिकुद्धं निघ्नन्तं क्षत्रियर्षभान्॥
And you will see the elephants, carwarriors and horse soldiers struck down by me; and you will see me moved by rage killing men, who are as bulls among the Kshatriyas.
द्रष्टा मां त्वं च लोकश्च विकर्षन्तं वरान् वरान्। न मे सीदन्ति मज्जानो न ममोद्वेपते मनः॥
You will see and the world will see me cutting down the foremost warriors. The marrow of my bones is not wasted away; nor does my mind shake with fear!
सर्वलोकादभिक्रुद्धान्न भयं विद्यते मम। किं तु सौहृदमेवैतत् कृपया मधुसूदन। सर्वास्तितिक्षे संक्लेशान् मा स्म नो भरता नशन्।।१८
I have no fear from all the worlds moved with wrath against me. But I am evincing these good wishes only out of mercy, O destroyer of Madhu. I can bear all sorts of troubles, if the Bharatas are not annihilated.