Having devoured the cartloads of food set before him, Bhima, with a single hand, seized from the Rakshasa a tree as massive as a mountain. Laughing heartily, Bhimasena finished his meal, left the remnants of the Rakshasa’s feast untouched, and drank hundreds of pots filled with curds and clarified butter. Once he had rinsed his mouth with water, he stood delighted and unshaken—firm as another mountain—facing the fearsome Rakshasa, who brandished a great tree in his fury. Witnessing this, the heroic Bhima rose to the challenge. He let out a lion’s roar and made a thunderous sound by clapping and slapping his arms together, resounding through the night. Enraged, Bhimasena confronted the Rakshasa, his voice booming like thunder, intent on instilling fear. He spoke: “For a long time, O vile Rakshasa, you have grown strong by feeding on the flesh of men and beasts, gorging on many kinds of food. But now, relying on the strength of my arms, you shall not eat again. Today, crushed by my power, you will go to the abode of Yama. From this day, the people of Vetrakiya will sleep without fear, for I shall remove this thorn from their city. Today, in battle, let the crows, jackals, and vultures feast on your body, slain by me, and drag it across the earth.” Having declared his intent, Partha—burning with anger and resolved to slay Baka—rushed at the Rakshasa. Baka, too, charged at Partha, his immense form moving with such speed that it seemed he would tear the earth asunder. His tawny body and coppery eyes glowed with rage. Furrowing his brow into three deep lines and baring his teeth, the Rakshasa seized a tree in his wrath. With all his might, Baka hurled the tree at Bhima, intending to strike him down. But Bhima, as if playing, caught the massive tree with his left hand, laughing all the while. Then, the mighty one gathered up many more trees. Baka, powerful in battle, hurled all these at Bhimasena, but Bhima swept them aside with the branch he held, scattering them effortlessly. Their battle became a destruction of the entire grove—a terrible and mighty conflict between Baka and the Pandava. Then, Baka, announcing his own name, rushed at the Pandava with the speed of a man-eater, fierce and relentless. The force of their struggle made the earth tremble, and in moments, the great trees and their trunks were crushed to splinters. Baka seized Bhima with his hands and hurled him, but Bhimasena, though thrown down, simply rose again, laughing. Bhima then embraced Baka and dashed him to the ground. Releasing him, Bhima said, “Take heart, Rakshasa.” After this, Bhima clapped his hands and commanded, “Rise up!” In response, Baka, leaping up in anger, assumed an even more monstrous form. Standing suddenly in this terrifying shape, Baka threatened Vrikodara, but Bhimasena merely laughed at the fearsome Rakshasa. Seizing him from behind, Bhima pressed him with his knees and threw him down to the ground once more. Again enraged, Bhima released the Rakshasa, whose life was fueled by anger, and, slightly raising his own hip, grasped Baka’s arms. With swift action, Vrikodara took hold of Baka’s arms, lifted and shook him, and then hurled the powerful Rakshasa to the earth. As Baka lay fallen, Bhima struck him on the chest with his left foot, wrathful and mighty. The Rakshasa, mouth agape and tongue lolling in terror, rushed at Bhima, but Bhima struck him on the head. Struck by the powerful Rakshasa, Bhima’s own terrible prowess was awakened, and he was seized by great wrath. Seizing Baka by the middle and lifting him up, Bhima and the man-eater pressed each other fiercely, like two mighty elephants intoxicated with battle, dragging each other about. The sounds of their arm-thrusts caused the whole city of Vetrakiya to tremble in fear. By their tremendous force, the earth itself shook, and trees and creepers were crushed beneath their fury. The two heroes, locked in battle and eager for each other’s death, hurled mountains, mountain peaks, and rocks torn from the heights at one another. Everything within a two-yojana area was pulverized by their blows, both in length and breadth. Maddened by combat, they rendered the earth bare—like the back of a tortoise—stripped of trees, rocks, grass, thickets, and creepers. For a brief moment, the Rakshasa and the foremost of the Kurus fought as equals. Then the best of the Kurus resolved to destroy the Rakshasa. Gnashing his teeth and biting his lips, Bhima covered his eyes and cast a terrible sideways glance at his foe. With immense strength, Bhimasena shook Baka, seized him, and embraced him tightly with his arms. With knees, sides, belly, back, and chest, Bhima struck the Rakshasa; his thighs, arms, and very heart were broken, and the bonds of his body loosened. Sweat poured from him, his breath came in heavy pants, his eyes rolled, and he made cracking sounds like an egg breaking, groaning and panting in his agony.