Hidimb Vadh

Vaishampaayan Jee said - Very near to the place where Paandav were sleeping, there lived a Raakshas lived on a Shaal tree. He was longing for human flesh. He saw Paandav and their mother sleeping in the forest, so his desire to eat human flesh increased more. He said to his sister Hidimbaa - "Seeing these people, I have wanted to eat human flesh, you go and see who these people are? Kill them and bring them to me. Since they are in my territory, you need not to worry." She went where Paandav were sleeping. She found four brothers sleeping and Bheem awake. She got attracted to the beauty of Bheem and thought that he was worthy to be her husband, he should not be killed.

So she assumed of a beautiful human form and approached him and asked him - "Who are you and where are you coming from? Who are these who are sleeping here? Don't you know that here lives a Raakshas and he has sent me to kill you so that he can eat you, but seeing you I have attracted to you and now I wish to choose you as my husband. Will you be my husband? I will save you from that Raakshas and then we will live on mountains as we will wish. I can go anywhere I like, so we both will enjoy." Bheem said - "Who can abandon his sleeping his mother and brothers to satisfy a Raakshas for his pleasure?" Hidimbaa said - "I will do whatever you will say, I will save you from my brother also." Bheem replied - "I am not afraid of your wicked brother, neither men, nor Gandharv, nor Yaksh can bear the power of my arms. Whether you stay or go, I don't care."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "When Raakshas Hidimb did not see his sister coming back, he himself went to the place where Paandav were. Seeing her brother coming there, Hidimbaa said to Bheem - "That wicked animal is coming here, do as I said to you. Come and sit on my back, I will take you through the skies. You may awake your mother and brothers also, I can carry all of you on my back." Bheem said to her - "O Raakshas woman, Do not fear for anybody. Nobody can harm my mother and brothers as long as I am here. See my body, no Raakshas can stand against me. Do not hate me because I am a human being, you see my power today." Hidimbaa said - "I do not doubt you, O powerful man, but I know the power of my brother."

As they were talking like this, Hidimb saw his sister standing in human form adorned with various jewelry. He knew that his sister had intended to marry that man, he shouted at her - "Why are you creating obstacles in my way of eating these people? Do you not fear of my wrath? You are defaming the name of Raakshas race?" Saying this he came forward to kill her. Seeing him coming Bheem shouted - "Stop, Stop. Why do you want to wake these innocent sleeping people? Face me first, do not kill a woman especially when she is opposing a sinner. If she wants to marry me, it is not her fault, it is by the all pervasive God. She came here at your command, but when she saw me, she started loving me. Now you cannot injure this innocent girl till I am standing here. Come to me and I will kill all the Raakshas living in this forest today."

Hidimb said - "Boast yourself later, first do it. I give you opportunity to show your strength, till then I will not kill your brothers. After I have killed you, then I will kill them, and then in the last I will kill my sister." Saying this he came towards Bheem. Bheem caught hold of him and dragged him far so that the noise could not wake his brothers. Then they started fighting with each other. But hearing the sound of fighting his brothers and Kuntee woke up and saw Hidimbaa sitting in front of them. Seeing that unsurpassed beauty, Kuntee asked her - "Who are you? Any Apsaraa or any deity of this woods? And why are you here?"

Hidimbaa said - "Here lives a Raakshas named Hidimb. I am his sister Hidimbaa. he sent me to kill all your children, but when I saw your son, I chose him as my husband mentally. I asked your son to go from here, but he did not listen to me. When my brother did not see me return, he himself came here and my husband has dragged him far. Now they are fighting shouting and making loud sounds." Seeing Bheem oppressed Arjun smilingly said - "Do not fear Bheem, I am coming to help you. let me slay this Raakshas, and let Nakul and Sahadev protect our mother." Bheem said - "You don't worry, I can handle him." And soon Bheem killed him. Arjun congratulated him and said - "The morning is breaking, it seems there is a town nearby, so let us go to that town lest Duryodhan's people find us." So all started walking towards the town followed by Hidimbaa."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "When Bheem saw that Hidimbaa was following them, he said to her - "Raakshas revenge in many ways so you go to the same way by which your brother has gone." Yudhishthir stopped him from slaying Hidimbaa saying - "However angry you are, but do not kill a woman. The observance of duty is a higher virtue than protection of life. In fact who wanted to kill us, you have already killed him, this woman is the sister of that Raakshas, what can she do to us?" Hearing this Hidimbaa saluted Kuntee and Yudhishthir and said - "I have chosen Bheem as my husband. If you leave me I will no longer live. So please, consider me your slave, marry me to him, permit me to go wherever I like with him, Then I will bring him back to you. Whenever you will think of me, I will come to you immediately and will do as you will order me. I will rescue you from all dangers and take you to many inaccessible regions. Please ask your son to accept me." Yudhishthir said - "So be it, as you say, but you should do as you have said. You may enjoy with him the whole day but you must bring him back every night." Bheem also said - "I make this arrangement until you have a son." Hidimbaa said - "As you say." She took him onn her back and fled away.

Hidimbaa took him all around sporting with him in all the regions until she conceived and brought forth a son. The child was terrible in looks, but had great strength and excessive powers. He became a mighty bowman. Although born of a human, he had nothing of human in his body. The Raakshas women brings forth the very day they conceive. Soon after his birth, the son bowed down to his parents and touched their feet. They named him Ghatotkach as he was bald like a Ghat (pitcher). He was devoted to all Paandav and became one of them.

Hidimbaa knew that her time was over with Bheem, so she left Paandav and went away her way. Ghatotkach also promised them that he would come to them whenever they would remember him, and went away northward. It was Indra created him from his portion as a fit opponent of Karn, in consequence of the Shakti he gave to Karn."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Paandav started going from forest to forest saw several countries - Matsya, the Trigart, the Paanchaal, the Keechak; and lakes and woods. They were in disguise of a Braahman - with matted locks and bark clothes. Once they met Vyaas Jee. Vyaas Jee said - "I had known this before that you would be suffering like this, that is why I have come to you. Do not grieve for this situation. This is all for your happiness. Both, you and Kaurav are alike for me, but people are always partial to those who are in misfortune or are of tender years. That is why my affection to you is greater now. Listen to me, there is a town very near to this place, go there and live there, there is no danger there. Live in disguise there and wait for my return." Saying this he led them to Ekchakraa Nagaree.

He said to Kuntee - "Daughter, this your son Yudhishthir will conquer the whole world and will rule over all the kings of the world. He will also perform various sacrifices - Raajsooya and Ashwamedh Yagya." Then he took them to a Braahman's house and told them to stay with him and wait for him there only. Then he went away from there.