Author: samrudhi

When everyone in the assembly, except Krishna, gave up and had lost their faith, among the gathered Brahmanas, one stood up.

The Brahmana was calm yet confident, which caught the attention of everyone. Some Brahmanas were supportive, while others feared that if this Brahmana failed, then the entire Brahmana community would be mocked.

Slowly, the Brahmana stepped forward. Krishna quietly observed the scene, as he had recognised that the Brahmana was none other than the Pandava brother, Arjuna, who was one of the greatest archers.  

As Arjuna walked towards the Kindhura bow, the kings and princes mocked him because even the great warriors of Aryavarta had failed to complete the challenge.

While some Brahmanas blessed Arjuna, some remained anxious and uncertain. Bhima, however, watched his brother with confidence.

Arjuna walked around the divine bow, and, bowing his head, he silently offered prayers to Shiva, Vishnu, and his Guru, Dronacharya.

Then, in front of the entire assembly, Arjuna bent forward and effortlessly lifted the bow.

When Karna stepped forward, many believed that he could complete the challenge, and just then, Draupadi rose from her seat.

Draupadi, in a firm and unwavering voice, declared that she would not marry a Suta, the son of a charioteer. Her words echoed throughout the hall, and the entire assembly fell silent.

Karna, holding the bow froze and smiled, his smile filled with wounded pride, before slowly looking towards the sun and stepping away from the bow.

Duryodhana, angered and insulted, clenched his fists because his closest friend and ally was humiliated in front of everyone.

But before Duryodhana could speak, Karna raised his hand slightly and silently returned to his seat with dignity. King Drupada looked at the entire assembly with growing concern.

Amidst the growing tension in the hall, Krishna watched silently with a gentle smile, upon his eyes fixed upon a group of the warriors disguised among the Brahmanas.

Just then, from among the gathered Brahmanas, one stood up.

The swayamvara began, and Draupadi entered the hall, draped in fine silk and adorned with ornaments, holding a garland in her hands. The entire assembly fell silent as they were mesmerised by her beauty and radiance. Draupadi took her place beside her father, King Drupada.

The royal priest announced the challenge – the one who would lift the bow, string it, and shoot the eye of the moving fish by looking into its reflection would win Draupadi’s hand in marriage.

One by one, the kings and princes stepped forward and tried their luck, but they failed to complete the challenge. Jarasandha, known for his strength, failed to lift the bow, and the bow remained unmoved, making the task seem impossible.

Karna, the King of Anga, stepped forward, known for his unmatched skill in archery. He bowed his head before the divine Kindhura bow, bent forward, and effortlessly lifted the bow.

A murmur spread across the hall as Karna began to string the bow.

Just then, Draupadi rose from her seat.

Drupada, the King of Panchala, wanting a worthy match for his daughter Draupadi, also known as Panchali (the princess of Panchala), organized a grand Swayamvara in Kampilya, the capital city of Panchala. To win Draupadi’s hand, the suitor had to first string the mighty Kindhura bow, a divine weapon gifted to Drupada by the gods, and then shoot an arrow through the eye of a moving fish, while looking only at its reflection below. The Pandavas, disguised as Brahmanas and following the advice of Vyasa, set out for Kampilya to attend Draupadi’s Swayamvara.

After days of quiet travel, they arrived at the magnificent city, where the streets bustled with kings, princes, warriors, elephants, chariots, dancers, and grand decorations prepared for the occasion.

Kings and princes from across Aryavarta (ancient Bharat) had gathered for this auspicious event — including Karna, King of Anga; Shalya, King of Madra; Jarasandha, King of Magadha; Duryodhana, Prince of Hastinapura — and even the celestials watched Draupadi’s Swayamvara in disguise. Soon, the Swayamvara began.

After Bhima slew the monstrous Bakasura, peace returned to Ekachakra. The Pandavas still lived in disguise, away from Duryodhana and his spies.
One evening, Veda Vyasa arrived to meet them. He praised Bhima for slaying Bakasura and protecting Ekachakra’s people.
Later, Vyasa warned them to leave soon, as their identity might be revealed if they stayed longer. He advised the Pandavas to go to Panchala, where King Drupada had arranged the swayamvara of his daughter Draupadi, born of fire, radiant and unparalleled in beauty. Princes and warriors from Aryavarta were to gather there to seek her hand. Vyasa instructed them to travel in the disguise of Brahmanas.
He revealed that the events after the swayamvara would mark the beginning of a long and difficult path, where they would sacrifice many along with countless warriors.
Seeing Kunti worried, Vyasa assured her that her children were protected by the gods and Krishna would guide them.
Soon, Vyasa departed, and with his departure began the Pandavas’ journey to Panchala.

When Kunti offered to send Bhima to Bakasura, the Brahmin family initially refused, worried about sending someone else’s son to die for them.
But Kunti assured them that her son was capable and had the strength of a hundred elephants, and off went Bhima with a massive cartload of rice, curd, ghee, meat, and wine.
On the way, Bhima sat under a tree and began eating the food. When Bakasura arrived, he found Bhima eating the food that was brought for him. Enraged, Bakasura attacked Bhima, and a fierce hand-to-hand combat took place in the forest.
Bhima and Bakasura used trees as weapons and fought with terrifying strength.
Eventually, Bhima overpowered and killed Bakasura by smashing him, then dragged the corpse to the gates of Ekachakra and returned home quietly.
The next morning, when the people of Ekachakra noticed Bakasura lifeless, they rejoiced as the terror was over.
The Brahmin family were stunned and grateful. They realized Bhima had done something but remained silent, as Kunti had asked them not to tell anyone.
The Pandavas continued living in disguise in the Brahmin’s house.

The Pandavas, along with their mother, took shelter in the house of a poor Brahmin who lived with his wife, son, and daughter. They begged for alms, which were shared equally among them. However, Kunti kept aside Bhima’s share separately due to his large appetite. The Pandavas also secretly trained themselves in warfare skills during the night.

One night, Kunti overheard the Brahmin family’s lamenting and asked the reason for their sorrow. The Brahmin told Kunti about a dreadful man-eating Rakshasa named Bakasura.

He had ordered the villagers to send a cart of food along with one member from each household once per week. It was now the Brahmin family’s turn, and they were preparing to sacrifice one of their members.

Kunti intervened and volunteered to send Bhima to face Bakasura. Despite their protests, Kunti insisted as she wished to repay the Poor Brahmin’s kindness.

The next day, Bhima, carried the cart of food to the forest where Bakasura lived. On his way to the cave, Bhima ate the entire food which was kept for the demon.

Bhima’s son was named Ghatotkacha (pot-headed) because the shape of his bald head resembled a ghata (earthen pot).

After his birth, Bhima departed from the forest and returned to his family, while Ghatotkacha remained with his mother, Hidimba, in the forest, growing in strength and acquiring various skills in warfare.

As the Pandavas were about to leave, Veda Vyasa appeared before them and advised them to remain incognito, as the Kauravas believed them to be dead. To maintain their secrecy, the Pandavas and Kunti disguised themselves as Brahmins.  

Vyasa advised them to go to the town of Ekachakra, where they can safely stay in disguise and recover their strength. Before departing, he told the Pandavas that he would come again at the right time to guide them further.

The Pandavas, along with their mother, set off southward and soon reached Ekachakra. There, they took shelter in the house of a poor Brahmin, begged for alms during the day, and secretly practiced their martial skills.

Hidimba was furious and lunged forward to kill Bhima. A gruesome duel began between Bhima and Hidimba. He was a strong and fearsome Rakshasa, but Bhima overpowered him, being the son of Vayu.

Amidst the fight, the other Pandavas and Kunti woke up and tried to assist Bhima, but Yudhishthira told them that Bhima was strong enough to defeat Hidimba.

Finally, Bhima killed Hidimba by smashing him into the ground with immense force.

After Hidimba’s death, Hidimbi approached Kunti and confessed that she was in love with Bhima and wanted to marry him.

At first, Bhima was reluctant, but married Hidimbi after Yudhishthira and Kunti’s permission, upon the condition that he would return to them, after giving her a son.

Bhima stayed in the forest for a short period, and Hidimbi gave birth to a son named Ghatotkacha.

Ghatotkacha grew rapidly (as Rakshasas do) and promised Bhima that he would come to their aid whenever the Pandavas needed him.

After Ghatotkacha’s birth, Bhima returned to his family, residing in the nearby area.

The Pandavas and Kunti slept under the banyan tree in the forest on the banks of the River Ganga, while Bhima stayed awake to guard them.

Hidimba, a Rakshasa (demon), devoured humans and always looked for humans near the forest. While looking for prey, he caught the scent of human flesh and asked his sister, Hidimbi, to bring one or more for their meal.

Hidimbi, obeying her brother, went in search of the prey but was enchanted and fell in love upon seeing Bhima, who was muscular and strong.

Hidimbi took the form of a beautiful maiden and approached Bhima, informing him about her brother’s plan. She told Bhima that she had fallen in love with him and promised him protection if he fled with her.

Bhima denied, as he did not want to leave his brothers and mother, and told her that he would face her brother instead and defeat him.

Furious at his sister’s betrayal, Hidimba arrived at the spot.