Hidimba And BakasuraVdha!- 15

(Adi Parva- Mahabharata)

Vaishampayan continued————

Escaping from Jatugriha, the Pandavas entered into a deep forest. The mighty Bhimsen taking up all his brothers in hand and mother Kunti on his back proceeded in the dense wood crushing the trees and their branches. By that time, all of them  afflicted with fatigue and thirst became too tired to move further. Mother Kunti urged for water to sustain. Having seen her condition, Yudhishthira asked his brother Bhimsen to bring some water to quench the thirst of their mother and brothers who were terribly afflicted! Mighty Bhimsen instantly carried his brother’s order. Searching hard for water, at last he saw a lake. He quenched his thirst and collected water in his upper garment but when he reached there, he saw all were asleep on the bare ground. Bhim was deeply afflicted looking at the painful sight of his delicate mother and brothers!

As all of them were asleep, he decided to keep himself awake for vigilance. Not far away, a Rakshasa named Hidimba was living on a Sala tree. He was looking terrible! He was a cruel cannibal. Without getting food for a long time, he became hungry and he was longing for human flesh. While casting his red eyes around, he saw the sons of Pandu sleeping under a tree. He then asked his sister Hidimvi, saying, ‘O sister! My good fortune that the food I was longing for such a long time has approached me today! I wish to enjoy our food together. Go and make sure who they are!’

Being asked by his brother, the female cannibal Hidimbi went to the place where the sons of Pandu fell asleep. There she saw mighty Bhimsen endued with great power, guarding his mother and brothers. Beholding his beautiful manly physique, she fell in love with him.  She thought to herself, ‘This golden hue complexion man is fit for my husband! My brother will kill him to satiate his hunger momentarily but I desire him to be my husband! A woman’s love for her husband is greater than her love for her brother!’ 

Thus, she took the form of a beautiful damsel and approached Bhimsen, saying, ‘O mighty one! Whence have you come and who are you? Who are these persons of celestial beauty, sleeping hither?  O best of men, who that lady looking like a princess slept here without any fear? This is a dense forest surrounded by cannibals- Rakshasas! O sinless one! I have been sent by my brother named - Hidimba to kill all of  you. But, the moment I saw you, I fell in love with you! I strongly desire you to be my husband. O lord! If you command, I would carry all of you to a safe place! I can rescue you from the Rakshasas who eat human flesh! Tell me, what is agreeable to you!’

Having heard of her words, Bhima said, ‘O beautiful lady! Just for the sake of fear of your cannibal brother, I am not going to disturb the sound sleep of my brothers and my mother. Your brother is not aware of my strength and power! Send him to me to test my prowess! Stay here or go away is up to your choice.’

Seeing the delayed return of his sister, Hidimva (the male Rakshas) rushed to the spot. He heard the conversation of his sister who had changed herself into a beautiful woman! He was enraged knowing the intention of his sister, and  ready to kill her. 

Hidimba yelled loudly at his sister and came running to kill her. Looking at his fury, Bhima hurriedly came forward to protect Hidimbi and engaged in a combat with Hidimba! Both were powerful and ready to show their prowess! ! With the sound of clasping and dragging each other, the four brothers and Kunti woke up. They were astonished seeing the beautiful lady- Hidimvi sitting before them. They confused her as an Apsaras or the deity of the forest! Beholding her beauty, Kunti asked her, ‘O excellent lady of celestial beauty! Who art thou? Are you an Apsaras or the deity of this wood? Tell me about yourself and your purpose for coming here!’

Bashfully, Hidimbi narrated the evil wish of her brother and her own desire to get mighty Bhimsen as her husband! Hidimbi said, ‘O venerable lady! Know me the sister of the Rakshasas Hidimba- the chief of Rakshasas! This forest is the abode of my brother. I had been sent by my brother to kill all your children but when I saw your mighty son, I fell in love with him. O saintly lady! I chose that mighty son of thine as my husband. I tried my best to convince your son to marry me and save all of you from my cannibal brother. But, he didn't agree. Looking at my delay, my brother reached here and heard our conversation! Thus, out of anger he rushed towards your son. Dragging each other, they are engaged in this terrible fight! Behold it thyself!’

In the meanwhile, both endued with strength and prowess Bhimsena and Hidimba engaged in combat, pressing each other with loud roars! The dust from the ground whirled up like the smoke of forest fire! Both of them looked tired!

 Arjun said, ‘O mighty hero! We never knew you to be tired! O brother, either you kill the Rakshasa without any loss of time or you allow me to send him to the abode of Yama deva! The Rakshasas become most powerful at the time of Raudra Muhurta ( just at the time of day break)! Either you take a rest or let me kill him!’

Having heard these words ofArjun, Bhimasen enraged. He lifted up the demon and dashed him on the ground. When Hidimba was killed, Bhimsena roared so loudly that the whole forest was filled with fear! After killing Hidimba, he tried to finish Hidimbi too. But, Yudhishthira and Kunti requested him to accept Hidimbi as his wife. Yudhishthira said, ‘O Hidimbi, blessed lady! Spot with Bhimsena at pleasure but you must always bring him back at night.’

Thus, Bhimsen enjoyed a few days with Hidimbi on the mountain peaks and beautiful places of celestial regions. He was with Hidimbi till she gave birth to a strong son of terrible eyes, large mouth and ears- like arrows! He was named as Ghatotkacha! He was extremely devoted to Pandavas and promised them to be present whenever it was required! 

After the departure of Hidimbi and Ghatotkacha, the Pandavas with mother Kunti crossed many forests! On the way, they met their illustrious grandfather- Krishna Dvaipayana, otherwise known as Vyasa Deva! He consoled all the Pandavas with Kunti to wait for the good fortune with patience. Having thus comforted them, Vyasa Deva led them to a beautiful town- Ekachakra and asked them to stay there in guise. He said, ‘Stay here till I will be back again. Pass your time safely here.’

The Pandavas said with joint hands, ‘So it be.’

Hidimva and Bakasura Vadha!— 15

                                                        (Adi Parva- Mahabharata)

Vaishampayan continued————

Escaping from Jatugriha, the Pandavas entered into a deep forest. The mighty Bhimsen taking up all his brothers in hand and mother Kunti on his back proceeded in the dense wood crushing the trees and their branches. By that time, all of them  afflicted with fatigue and thirst became too tired to move further. Mother Kunti urged for water to sustain. Having seen her condition, Yudhishthira asked his brother Bhimsen to bring some water to quench the thirst of their mother and brothers who were terribly afflicted! Mighty Bhimsen instantly carried his brother’s order. Searching hard for water, at last he saw a lake. He quenched his thirst and collected water in his upper garment but when he reached there, he saw all were asleep on the bare ground. Bhim was deeply afflicted looking at the painful sight of his delicate mother and brothers!

As all of them were asleep, he decided to keep himself awake for vigilance. Not far away, a Rakshasa named Hidimba was living on a Sala tree. He was looking terrible! He was a cruel cannibal. Without getting food for a long time, he became hungry and he was longing for human flesh. While casting his red eyes around, he saw the sons of Pandu sleeping under a tree. He then asked his sister Hidimvi, saying, ‘O sister! My good fortune that the food I was longing for such a long time has approached me today! I wish to enjoy our food together. Go and make sure who they are!’

Being asked by his brother, the female cannibal Hidimbi went to the place where the sons of Pandu fell asleep. There she saw mighty Bhimsen endued with great power, guarding his mother and brothers. Beholding his beautiful manly physique, she fell in love with him.  She thought to herself, ‘This golden hue complexion man is fit for my husband! My brother will kill him to satiate his hunger momentarily but I desire him to be my husband! A woman’s love for her husband is greater than her love for her brother!’ 

Thus, she took the form of a beautiful damsel and approached Bhimsen, saying, ‘O mighty one! Whence have you come and who are you? Who are these persons of celestial beauty, sleeping hither?  O best of men, who that lady looking like a princess slept here without any fear? This is a dense forest surrounded by cannibals- Rakshasas! O sinless one! I have been sent by my brother named - Hidimba to kill all of  you. But, the moment I saw you, I fell in love with you! I strongly desire you to be my husband. O lord! If you command, I would carry all of you to a safe place! I can rescue you from the Rakshasas who eat human flesh! Tell me, what is agreeable to you!’

Having heard of her words, Bhima said, ‘O beautiful lady! Just for the sake of fear of your cannibal brother, I am not going to disturb the sound sleep of my brothers and my mother. Your brother is not aware of my strength and power! Send him to me to test my prowess! Stay here or go away is up to your choice.’

Seeing the delayed return of his sister, Hidimva (the male Rakshas) rushed to the spot. He heard the conversation of his sister who had changed herself into a beautiful woman! He was enraged knowing the intention of his sister, and  ready to kill her. 

Hidimba yelled loudly at his sister and came running to kill her. Looking at his fury, Bhima hurriedly came forward to protect Hidimbi and engaged in a combat with Hidimba! Both were powerful and ready to show their prowess! ! With the sound of clasping and dragging each other, the four brothers and Kunti woke up. They were astonished seeing the beautiful lady- Hidimvi sitting before them. They confused her as an Apsaras or the deity of the forest! Beholding her beauty, Kunti asked her, ‘O excellent lady of celestial beauty! Who art thou? Are you an Apsaras or the deity of this wood? Tell me about yourself and your purpose for coming here!’

Bashfully, Hidimbi narrated the evil wish of her brother and her own desire to get mighty Bhimsen as her husband! Hidimbi said, ‘O venerable lady! Know me the sister of the Rakshasas Hidimba- the chief of Rakshasas! This forest is the abode of my brother. I had been sent by my brother to kill all your children but when I saw your mighty son, I fell in love with him. O saintly lady! I chose that mighty son of thine as my husband. I tried my best to convince your son to marry me and save all of you from my cannibal brother. But, he didn't agree. Looking at my delay, my brother reached here and heard our conversation! Thus, out of anger he rushed towards your son. Dragging each other, they are engaged in this terrible fight! Behold it thyself!’

In the meanwhile, both endued with strength and prowess Bhimsena and Hidimba engaged in combat, pressing each other with loud roars! The dust from the ground whirled up like the smoke of forest fire! Both of them looked tired!

 Arjun said, ‘O mighty hero! We never knew you to be tired! O brother, either you kill the Rakshasa without any loss of time or you allow me to send him to the abode of Yama deva! The Rakshasas become most powerful at the time of Raudra Muhurta ( just at the time of day break)! Either you take a rest or let me kill him!’

Having heard these words ofArjun, Bhimasen enraged. He lifted up the demon and dashed him on the ground. When Hidimba was killed, Bhimsena roared so loudly that the whole forest was filled with fear! After killing Hidimba, he tried to finish Hidimbi too. But, Yudhishthira and Kunti requested him to accept Hidimbi as his wife. Yudhishthira said, ‘O Hidimbi, blessed lady! Spot with Bhimsena at pleasure but you must always bring him back at night.’

Thus, Bhimsen enjoyed a few days with Hidimbi on the mountain peaks and beautiful places of celestial regions. He was with Hidimbi till she gave birth to a strong son of terrible eyes, large mouth and ears- like arrows! He was named as Ghatotkacha! He was extremely devoted to Pandavas and promised them to be present whenever it was required! 

After the departure of Hidimbi and Ghatotkacha, the Pandavas with mother Kunti crossed many forests! On the way, they met their illustrious grandfather- Krishna Dvaipayana, otherwise known as Vyasa Deva! He consoled all the Pandavas with Kunti to wait for the good fortune with patience. Having thus comforted them, Vyasa Deva led them to a beautiful town- Ekachakra and asked them to stay there in guise. He said, ‘Stay here till I will be back again. Pass your time safely here.’

The Pandavas said with joint hands, ‘So it be.’