Birth and early life , 1914|left Bhima was the second of the five
Pandava brothers, the adoptive sons of retired Kuru king
Pandu, and was born to
Kunti with divine intervention due to Pandu's inability to conceive. According to the epic, Kunti invoked the wind god,
Vayu, using a mantra provided by the sage
Durvasa, resulting in Bhima's birth. This divine connection bestowed upon him immense physical strength. At the time of his birth, a celestine prophecy declared that he would become the mightiest warrior. A notable incident in his infancy underscored his extraordinary strength: when he accidentally fell from his mother's lap onto a rock, the rock shattered into pieces while Bhima remained unscathed. This event served as an early indication of his formidable abilities. After Pandu's demise in the forest, the Pandavas were raised alongside their cousins,
Kauravas, in
Hastinapura, the capital of
Kuru. During his childhood, Bhima's strength was frequently displayed, often to the dismay of the Kauravas, particularly
Duryodhana. Bhima's physical prowess frequently led to his victories in their childhood games, resulting in animosity and jealousy among the Kauravas. This enmity culminated in a plot by Duryodhana, who conspired to eliminate Bhima. In one such plot, Bhima was given poisoned food and thrown into the
Ganges River while unconscious. However, this plan inadvertently led to Bhima's encounter with the
Nagas (divine serpents) in their underwater realm. As Bhima descended into the river's depths, he reached the Naga realm, where the serpents bit him. Their venom neutralised the poison in his body, effectively reviving him. In this realm, Bhima met Aryaka, a Naga chieftain and his maternal relative. Recognising Bhima's divine heritage, Aryaka introduced him to
Vasuki, the king of the Nagas. Impressed by Bhima's lineage and potential, Vasuki offered him a divine elixir. Bhima consumed eight pots of this elixir, thereby acquiring the strength of a thousand elephants. He spent eight days in the Naga realm to fully assimilate this power. On the ninth day, the Nagas, honouring his newfound strength, returned Bhima to Hastinapura, where he rejoined his family. Bhima was also renowned for his giant appetite – at times, half of the total food consumed by the Pandavas was eaten by him.
Hiding and encounters with Rakshasas The rivalry between the
Pandavas and the
Kauravas intensified as they grew older. Bhima's physical strength and assertiveness were sources of constant irritation for
Duryodhana, who viewed him as a significant threat. The poisoning incident was one of several attempts by the Kauravas to eliminate Bhima. Another major scheme involved sending the Pandavas, along with Kunti, to Varanavata, where they were placed in a palace made of lac, known as
Lakshagriha, with the intention of burning them alive. However, the Pandavas, forewarned by their uncle
Vidura, managed to escape through a secret tunnel they had prepared, marking the beginning of their period of concealment to avoid further problems from the Kauravas. After their escape from the burning Lakshagriha, the Pandavas, accompanied by their mother Kunti, traversed the forest to avoid further threats from the Kauravas. During their journey, Kunti and her sons, except Bhima, were overcome with fatigue. Demonstrating his exceptional strength, Bhima carried his mother and brothers on his shoulders through the forest. Their journey led them to the
Kamyaka forest, inhabited by the
Rakshasa (here, man-eating race)
Hidimba and his sister
Hidimbi. While the Pandavas rested under a tree, Hidimba, who desired to consume them, dispatched his sister Hidimbi to lure them. However, upon encountering Bhima, Hidimbi was struck by his physical appearance and power, and she proposed marriage to him. When Hidimba discovered her intentions, he became enraged and attacked Bhima. Bhima engaged in combat with Hidimba and, after a fierce battle, killed him. Moved by Hidimbi's plight, Kunti consented to Bhima's marriage to her, on the condition that he would rejoin his family after some time. Bhima and Hidimbi had a son,
Ghatotkacha, who later became a significant ally of the Pandavas.
Marriages and children The
Adi Parva mentions three wives of Bhima-
Hidimbi,
Draupadi and
Balandhara, with whom he had one son each. Bhima's first wife,
Hidimbi, also known as Hidimbā, was from the
Rakshasa race—supernatural beings typically associated with evil deeds, such as consuming humans. Together, they had a son named
Ghatotkacha (see
previous section for details). Both Hidimbi and Ghatotkacha are notable exceptions, exhibiting benevolent qualities despite their Rakshasa origins. The
Bhagavata Purana records Balandhara as Kali and Savarga as Sarvagata. Simon Brodbeck theorizes that this marriage might have taken place after the
Kurukshetra War, as this unnamed wife is not mentioned elsewhere. Bhima's campaign expanded with the defeat of King Subahu of
Kasi and King Kratha of Suparsa, followed by conquests in
Matsya, Maladas, Pasubhumi, Madahara, Mahidara, and the Somadheyas. He subdued Vatsabhumi, Bhargas, Nishadas, Manimat, Southern Mallas, and the Bhagavanta mountains. Through diplomacy, he gained the submission of the Sarmakas and Varmakas, and easily conquered King Janaka of
Videha. Bhima also overcame the Sakas and several barbarian tribes, defeated seven Kirata kings near Indra mountain, and subjugated the Suhmas and Prasuhmas. En route to Magadha, he subdued Kings Danda and Dandadhara. Afterwards, Bhima conquered
Anga and slew the mighty ruler of Madagiri. He continued his conquests against Vasudeva of Pundra, Mahaujah of Kausika-kachchha, and the king of Vanga, also subduing Samudrasena, Chandrasena, Tamralipta, and the rulers of Karvatas and Suhmas. Bhima subdued the
Mlechchha tribes along the coast, amassed wealth from Lohitya, and returned to Indraprastha.
Game of Dice and vows to slay the Kauravas The splendour of Yudhishthira's
Rajasuya Yajna and the prosperity of the Pandavas caused intense jealousy among the Kauravas, particularly
Duryodhana. Seeking to usurp the Pandavas' power and wealth, Duryodhana, with the counsel of his maternal uncle
Shakuni, invited Yudhishthira to a
game of dice. Despite his misgivings, Yudhishthira accepted the challenge, driven by the codes of Kshatriya honour and hospitality. The game of dice was a turning point in the epic. Shakuni, who played on behalf of Duryodhana, used deceitful means to ensure Yudhishthira's defeat. As the game progressed, Yudhishthira lost his kingdom, wealth, and even his brothers, including Bhima, one by one. Eventually, he wagered
Draupadi and lost her as well. After the Kauravas exiled the Pandavas for thirteen years, Bhima swore terrible oaths of vengeance. He vowed to kill Duryodhana by breaking his thigh, a reference to Duryodhana's insulting gesture during the dice game, when he exposed his thigh (a euphemism for the genitals
Exile and Life in the Forest (Persian translation of the Mahabharata'', c. 16th century) During their twelve-year exile in the forest following their loss in the game of dice, the
Pandavas encountered numerous adversities and engaged in various significant events. Bhima, with his immense strength and courage, was instrumental in addressing many challenges that arose during this period. At one point,
Arjuna departed to the
Himalayas to undertake severe penance in order to acquire celestial weapons from the god
Shiva. During Arjuna's prolonged absence, Bhima and the remaining Pandavas grew increasingly concerned for his safety. The Pandavas ventured to Mount Gandhamadana in search of Arjuna. During this arduous journey, they encountered numerous challenges, including fatigue and harsh terrains. At one point, Draupadi fainted from exhaustion. Bhima then invoked his son
Ghatotkacha, who promptly arrived and assisted the Pandavas. Ghatotkacha carried the Pandavas on his shoulders, allowing them to continue their journey with greater ease. Their journey eventually led them to the ashrama of
Nara and Narayana. While resting there, Bhima noticed a fragrant Saugandhika flower, which had been carried to Draupadi by the northeast wind. Draupadi expressed her desire to possess more of these flowers. To fulfil her wish, Bhima set out in the northeast direction toward the Saugandhika forest. This journey brought Bhima to Kadalivana, where he encountered
Hanuman, his half-brother, as both were sons of the wind god,
Vayu. Initially, Hanuman tested Bhima's strength and humility by blocking his path with his tail. Despite Bhima's efforts, he was unable to move Hanuman's tail. Recognising the limits of his strength, Bhima humbled himself, prompting Hanuman to reveal his true identity. Hanuman blessed Bhima and provided him guidance to the Saugandhika forest. Following this encounter, Bhima ventured into the forest, overcame the Rakshasas known as Krodhavasas guarding it, and successfully collected the flowers, which he later presented to Draupadi. On another incident, Bhima was spurred into action when Draupadi expressed a desire to see the summit of the Gandhamadana mountain. On his way, he encountered fierce Rakshasas and Yakshas guarding the region around Kubera's palace and defeated them all in a brutal battle. They retreated after Bhima slew their leader, the mighty Rakshasa Maniman. However, through his seemingly rash actions, Bhima fulfilled an old curse placed on
Kubera and Maniman by the sage Agastya. When Kubera arrived, he was not angry but was pleased, explaining that Bhima's deeds were destined. Another notable event during the Pandavas' exile involved the abduction attempt by
Jayadratha, the king of
Sindhu. While the Pandavas were away hunting, Jayadratha encountered Draupadi alone and abducted her. On learning of this, Bhima, along with his brothers, pursued and confronted Jayadratha. Bhima overpowered Jayadratha's forces, captured him, and expressed a desire to kill him for his transgression. However, Yudhishthira intervened, advocating for a less violent resolution. Consequently, Bhima and his brothers humiliated Jayadratha by shaving his head, leaving him with a mark of disgrace before releasing him.
Incognito life in Virata's kingdom , c. 1670. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. After completing their twelve-year exile, the Pandavas entered their thirteenth year, during which they were required to live incognito. They sought refuge in the kingdom of Matsya, ruled by King Virata, and assumed various disguises. Bhima took on the role of Vallabha, a cook, and wrestler in King Virata's palace. Within themselves, Pandavas called him Jayanta. His primary duties involved working in the royal kitchens, though his position as a wrestler occasionally necessitated the display of his physical prowess. There was a wrestling bout where a wrestler from a different state, Jimuta proved to be invincible. Much to the delight of King
Virata and his subjects, Bhima challenged Jimuta and knocked him out in no time. This greatly enhanced the reputation of the Pandavas in unfamiliar territory. A significant incident during this period was Bhima's encounter with Kichaka, the brother-in-law of King Virata. Kichaka developed an infatuation with Draupadi, who was serving in the palace under the guise of a maid named Sairandhri. Kichaka's advances toward Draupadi escalated and he tried to sexually assault her, prompting her to seek Bhima's protection. Bhima devised a plan to eliminate Kichaka without revealing their true identities. He arranged for Draupadi to lure Kichaka into a secluded area, where Bhima, disguised, awaited him. A physical confrontation ensued, during which Bhima killed Kichaka. This incident was carried out discreetly to avoid compromising the Pandavas' incognito status. Kichaka's brothers blamed Sairandhri (Draupadi) for his death and tried to forcefully cremate her along with Kichaka, but Bhima slew them and rescued Draupadi. Bhima wielded a celestial bow named Vayavya, gifted to him by his divine father, Vayu, and also possessed the massive conch named Paundra. Additionally, he wielded a colossal mace, said to have the strength of a hundred thousand maces, which had been presented to him by
Mayasura. Before hostilities broke out,
Krishna sought a final compromise to avoid war. During these peace talks, Bhima expressed his opinion that peace was preferable to war (
Udyoga Parva, Chapter 74). However, he also asserted that he was prepared for battle and spoke confidently about his prowess in the upcoming conflict (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 76). When
Duryodhana sent
Uluka with a message to the Pandavas, Bhima responded with an insulting reply, rejecting any form of submission or negotiation (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 163). In a separate battle, Bhima killed Dussala, another warrior (Chapter 129). He later faced Karna once again (Chapter 131). In subsequent engagements, Bhima killed Durjaya (Chapter 133, Verse 13) and Durmukha (Chapter 134, Verse 20). He continued his campaign against the Kaurava brothers, killing Durmarshana, Dussaha, Durmada, Durdhara, and Jaya (Chapter 135, Verse 30). Subsequently, Bhima killed the prince of
Kalinga by thrashing and kicking him (Chapter 155, Verse 24). He continued his offensive against key warriors, pushing and beating Jayarata, Dhruva, Durmada, and Dushkarna to death (Chapter 155). Bhima also rendered the great hero Somadatta unconscious with his club (Chapter 157, Verse 10). Bhima encountered
Vikarna along with seven Kaurava brothers . In the battle that ensued, Vikarna was killed. Bhima grieved Vikarna's death by praising his noble deeds. In this chapter, Bhima also killed
Bahlika (Chapter 157, Verse 11) and other warriors including Nagadatta, Dridharatha, Mahabahu, Ayobhuja, Dridha, Suhastha, Viraja, Pramathi, Ugra, and Anuyayi (Chapter 157, Verse 16). Bhima's son
Ghatotkacha was killed by Karna, leading to Bhima lament over his death. Bhima then killed the elephant named Ashvatthama as part of a strategic deception to spread the false news that Drona's son,
Ashvatthama, had been killed (Chapter 190, Verse 15). This ruse led to Drona's surrender and eventual downfall. Bhima then fought against the
Narayanastra, a celestial weapon deployed by Ashvatthama (Chapter 199, Verse 45). During this encounter, Bhima's charioteer was killed (Chapter 199, Verse 45).
Karna Parva (16th-17th days) In the
Karna Parva, Bhima killed Kshemadhurti, the King of Kalata, in another battle (Chapter 12, Verse 25). He then fought Ashvatthama, but was struck down unconscious in this encounter (Chapter 15). Bhima killed Bhanusena, the son of
Karna, in a subsequent duel (Chapter 48, Verse 27). He then killed Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama, Kratha, Nanda, and Upananda in another engagement (Chapter 51, Verse 12). Following this, Bhima killed ten more sons of Dhritarashtra: Nisangi, Kavaci, Pasi, Dandadhara, Dhanurgraha, Alolupa, Sala, Sandha, Vatavega, and Suvarcas (Chapter 84, Verse 2).Bhima continued his assault on the Kaurava forces, killing 25,000 infantrymen single-handedly in one engagement (Chapter 93, Verse 28). Though Bhima had superior strength, Duryodhana had superior skills. Krishna reminded Arjuna about Bhima's oath to smash Duryodhana's thigh during the duel. Arjuna signaled to Bhima by slapping his thigh. Understanding that sign, Bhima threw his mace towards Duryodhana's thigh while the latter was in mid-air during a jump. After defeating Duryodhana, Bhima taunted Duryodhana by kicking his head repeatedly and dancing madly. Enraged at this sight,
Balarama grabbing his plough attempted to attack Bhima, but was stopped by Krishna. Krishna convinced his brother by reminding him of Bhima's oath and the encroaching onset of the Kali Yuga.
Later years and death manuscript, c. 1616 - 1617 After the
Kurukshetra War, Bhima played a significant role in the events that followed. He pursued
Ashvatthama, who had killed
Draupadi's sons (including Bhima's son Sutasoma) in a night raid on the Pandava camp (Sauptika Parva, Chapter 13, Verse 16). After Ashwatthama was subdued and his powerful gem was taken from him, Bhima presented the gem to
Draupadi (Sauptika Parva, Chapter 16, Verse 26), consoling her. Later, Bhima apologised to
Gandhari, the mother of the
Kauravas (Stri Parva, Chapter 15), and
Dhritarashtra, who attempted to kill him by crushing him in a bear hug. Krishna intervened by replacing Bhima with a metal statue, and Dhritarashtra's rage was appeased when he shattered the statue, allowing him to partially forgive him. and settled him in the palace that had belonged to Duryodhana (Shanti Parva, Chapter 44, Verse 6). During the
Ashvamedha Yajna conducted by Yudhishthira, Bhima took on the responsibility of measuring the sacrificial ground alongside the Brahmins (Ashvamedha Parva, Chapter 88, Verse 6). During this period,
Babhruvahana, a son of
Arjuna, visited Bhima, who sent him back with gifts of money and food grains (Ashvamedha Parva, Chapter 88, Verse 6). Bhima initially opposed Dhritarashtra's request for funds to perform riyuals for those who had died in the war, but agreed after persuasions from Dhritarashta and Yudhishthira (Ashramavasika Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 7). After Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and
Kunti retired to the forest, Bhima visited them once (Ashramavasika Parva, Chapter 23). In some versions of the story, Yudhishthira points out Bhima's boastfulness, gluttony, and battle-lust as the reasons for his fall. Bhima is seen among the
Maruts and sitting next to his father
Vayu, when Yudhisthira ascended to
Svarga. == Outside Indian subcontinent ==