Bhima vs Bhagadatta’s elephant, Supratika.

Is it true that Bhima ran away from an elephant on the 12th day of the Kurushetra War? Is it true that Bhima ran away from an elephant on the 12th day of the Kurushetra War? Yes!! But this doesn't show that Bhima is a weak warrior Bhima vs Bhagadatta’s elephant, Supratika. "When those troops, thus broken, fled away in all directions, the ruler of the Pragjyotishas then advanced against Bhima, upon his elephant. With its two (fore) legs and trunk contracted, filled with rage, and with eyes rolling, that elephant seemed to consume the son of Pandu (like a blazing fire). And it pounded Vrikodara's car with the steed yoked thereto into dust. Then Bhima ran forward and got under the elephant's body, for he knew the science called Anjalikabedha. Indeed, the son of Pandu fled not. Getting under the elephant's body, he began to strike it frequently with his bare arms. And he smote that invincible elephant which was bent upon slaying him. Thereupon, the latter began to quickly turn round like a potter's wheel. Endued with the might of ten thousand elephants, the blessed Vrikodara, having struck that elephant thus, came out from under Supratika's body and stood facing the latter. Supratika then, seizing Bhima by its trunk, threw him down by means of its knees. Indeed, having seized him by the neck, that elephant wished to slay him. Twisting the elephant's trunk, Bhima freed himself from its twine, and once more got under the body of that huge creature. And he waited there, expecting the arrival of a hostile elephant of his own army. Coming out from under the beast's body, Bhima then ran away with great speed. Drona Parva: Section XXIV Bhima tried so much before he decided to run away from Supratika. Pls don't underestimate him…. He was the Mighty warrior who did not surrender to the supreme Narayana weapon. Supratika was powered by King Bhagadatta’s Vaishnavastra. Here Sri Krishna explains power of King Bhagadatta’s Vaishnavastra 'Listen, O Partha, to this secret and ancient history as it is, O sinless one! I have four forms, eternally engaged as I am in protecting the worlds. Dividing my own Self, I ordain the good of the worlds. One form of mine, staying on the earth, is engaged in the practice of ascetic austerities. Another beholdeth the good and the evil deeds in the world. My third form, coming into the world of men, is engaged in action. My fourth form lieth down in sleep for a thousand years. The form of mine which awaketh from sleep at the end of a thousand years, granteth, upon awakening, excellent boons to persons deserving of them. The earth, knowing (on one occasion) that that time had come, asked of me a boon for (her son) Naraka. Hear, O Partha, what that boon was. Possessed of the Vaishnava weapon, let my son become incapable of being slain by the gods and the Asuras. It behoveth thee to grant me that weapon. Hearing this prayer, I then gave, in days of old, the supreme and infallible Vaishnava weapon to the Earth's son. I said also at that time these words, 'O Earth, let this weapon be infallible for the protection of Naraka. None will be able to slay him. Protected by this weapon, thy son will always, in all the worlds, be invincible and crush all hostile hosts.' Saying, So be it! the intelligent goddess went away, her wishes fulfilled. And Naraka also became invincible and always scorched his foes. It was from Naraka, O Partha, that the ruler of the Pragjyotishas got this weapon of mine. There is none, in all the world, O sire, including even Indra and Rudra, who is unslayable by this weapon. Drona Parva: Section Here.. , 'O Earth, let this weapon be infallible for the protection of Naraka. The Vaishnava weapon always protected both Supratika and King Bhagadatta Protected by this weapon, thy son will always, in all the worlds, be invincible and crush all hostile hosts.' So… at that point.. Supratika’s strength must be enhanced by King Bhagadatta’s Vaishnava weapon. Moreover, Arjuna praised Supratika (Sry lack of Pictures) His elephant, again, is the foremost of elephants, without a rival to encounter it in battle. Possessed of great dexterity and above all fatigue, it is, again, impervious to all weapons. Drona Parva: Section XXV So it is no ordinary elephant to begin with.. Arjuna cut-off Supratika’s armour with thick showers of arrows. Then Indra's son cut open the armour in which that elephant was eased, by means of a thick shower of arrows. The armour thus cut off, fell down on the earth. Exceedingly afflicted with arrows shot by Arjuna, that elephant, deprived of its coat of mail, looked like a prince of mountains destitute of its cloudy robes and with streaks of water running down its breast. Drona Parva: Section XXVII But… After Sri Krishna rendered the Vaishnava weapon useless… Arjuna using one long arrow killed Supratika Then, the mighty-armed and high-souled Arjuna fearlessly struck a long arrow between the frontal globes of his enemy's elephant. That arrow, splitting the elephant like the thunder splitting a mountain, penetrated into its body to the very wings, like a snake penetrating into an ant-hill. Though urged repeatedly then by Bhagadatta, the elephant refused to obey like a poor man's wife her lord. With limbs paralysed, it fell down, striking the earth with its tusks. Uttering a cry of distress, that huge elephant gave up the ghost. Drona Parva: Section XXVII Thus I conclude that…. Without Vaishnava weapon’s protection…. Neither King Bhagadatta nor Supratika is a great deal.