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1. Bheem's Childhood, and Young Bheem Before Exile
2. Bheem Kills Jaraasandh, and Vows Towards Duryodhan and Dushaasan
3. Bheem, Keechak, Dushaasan and Duryodhan
4. Bheem and Dhritraashtra

Bheem was Kuntee and Paandu's second son from Pavan Dev. Thus he was younger brother of Hanumaan. Bheem was very powerful and mighty. When he was born, he fell down from Kuntee's hands on a rock beneath her. Kuntee got scared as he might have got hurt, but she was surprised to see that the child was playing and the rock was cracked under him. His another name was Vrikodar.

Childhood

He had a massive diet. It is said that Kuntee used feed Bheem first then she fed her other four sons. Everybody knew about it and sometimes used to take advantage out of it. Once Duryodhan, with the intention to kill Bheem, mixed poison in sweets and fed it to Bheem. After some time he got unconscious. Then Duryodhan and Dushaasan tied him in a mat and threw him in the river to drown. Instead of drowning, Bheem went down and down and arrived in Naag Desh. Kuntee was a Naag girl, so when Bheem arrived there he came to his senses. He introduced himself and he was given a royal treatment. Naag Raaj gave him some potion to drink which gave him a thousand elephants strength. So instead of dying he came back with much more strength. Duryodhan got very surprised to see this and his plan to kill him failed.

Baaranaavat Affair

There used to be an annual fair at Baaranaavat where usually the Crown Prince used to go. But since for a few years Hastinaapur didn't have its Crown Prince, Dhritraashtra used to go there. But now Yudhishthir was declared as the Crown Prince, so Vidur suggested that this time Yudhishthir should be sent there. This will give the opportunity to Hastinaapur people know their would be king introduce himself as the future king. 

So all Paandav went there along with Maa Kuntee. But Duryodhan had some evil plans for them. He was planning to kill them all, because he could not get opportunity better than this to kill all of them together.

So he built a special house there for them which was made of all kinds inflammable things. A trustworthy man was supposed to lit fire in it on a certain night. But Vidur Jee knew about this plan so he warned them, and helped them to come out through a tunnel. So they themselves set out the fire a night before its set night and escaped. Fortunately or unfortunately a family of five sons and their mother stayed there for that night, so that family got burned. Bheem was so mighty that when Paandav were hiding in Van and Kuntee used to get tired walking, he use to carry her along with Nakul and Sahadev on his shoulders.

Seeing that family burned Duryodhan thought that Kuntee and Paandav have already died. He got very happy to hear this news but he got surprised that how come that the fire was set one night before, but he couldn't think of any reason, since there was no news of Paandav. Besides he was so happy with his plan that he soon forgot to think about it.

Bheem's Marriages to Hidimbaa, Draupadee, and Balandharaa

On Vidur's advice, Paandav started living in hiding in villages and Van. Once all Paandav were sleeping along with Kuntee in a forest. Bheem was on guard. There lived a Raakshas nearby, named Hidimb along with his sister Hidimbaa. On that night when Hidimb came back, he smelled human being's flesh and asked Hidimbaa to bring human meat. Hidimbaa went there where Paandav were sleeping, but she got attracted to Bheem. She came back and said to her brother that she wouldn't kill him as she loved him and wanted to marry him.

Then Hidimb himself came there to eat them, but Bheem fought with him and killed him. By then other Paandav and Maa Kuntee also woke up and surprised to see a Raakshas killed and lying there. Hidimbaa requested Kuntee to accept her for Bheem. Kuntee accepted her on Bheem's consent. Bheem lived there until he had a son - one year. His son's name was Ghatotkach. He also fought very bravely in Mahaabhaarat war like Abhimanyu and was killed there.

Bheem then married to Draupadee and had a son from her named Sutsom. He was married to the princess of Kaashee also - Balandharaa and had a son from her too - Sarvaang. Thus Bheem had three sons from his three wives - Ghatotkach from Hidimbaa, Sutsom from  Draupadee, and Sarvaang from Balandharaa. 

Bheem Kills Bakaasur

At another time they were living with a Braahman family in Ekchakraa Nagaree. They were living there in Braahman's disguise. That family had parents and a daughter and a son. One day Kuntee heard some argument going on among them. She went there and asked as what was the cause of argument. First Braahman hesitated to say something about his problems but then Kuntee said - "We live in your house, that is why we have the right to share your problems also."

Then Braahman told her that there lived a Raakshas named Bakaasur who used to eat as many people as he liked. Then the village people settled with him that they would send a cart-load food with somebody every week and he would not come to village any more. So we decided that we will choose one family by lottery and that family will send one person to that Raakshas. Tomorrow is my family's turn, so we are quarreling that who will go tomorrow with the cart. I say that I will go because I am the head of the family so it is my duty to protect them all and go there; my wife says that "I share your luck so I will go with the cart. You are the head of the family, if you will go who will take care of the family?" My daughter says "I will go" and My this little son says "I should share my father's responsibility, so I will go."

Kuntee said - "This is not a problem at all. You were quarreling without any reason. I am part of your family and I also have the right to share your problems. I have five sons. Tomorrow my one son will take the food cart to that Raakshas. So you don't worry at all and sleep comfortably." That Braahman agreed after some hesitation. 

Next day Kuntee sent Bheem with the cart. Bheem finished all food on the way and arrived there late. Raakshas was very angry. Seeing Bheem coming so late he growled "Why are you so late? I am very hungry. Bring my food." Bheem said, "I have come here, that is enough for you. And I am late because on the way I also felt hungry so I ate all food which I brought with me." When Raakshas didn't see his food, he ran to eat Bheem. Both fought fiercely and in the end Bheem killed that Raakshas.   

When it was getting late, village people thought that there is something wrong. They got scared. But then somebody informed them that he saw the dead Raakshas lying, so don't worry, he is dead. Everybody got very happy to hear this and came to that Braahman's house to honor him, but he said that it was not he, but a Braahman boy did it. Then they said - "Call him, where is he? We want to thank him." The Braahman went inside to call him  but found nobody there as all had left the house.

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