“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Meanwhile the Kauravas and the
Pandavas, after having thus sported there, set out, without Bhima, for
Hastinapura, some on horses, some on elephants, while others preferred chariots
and other conveyances. On their way they said to one another, ‘Perhaps, Bhima
has gone before us.’ The wicked Duryodhana was glad at heart to miss Bhima, and
entered the city with his brothers in joy.
“The Dharmic Yudhishthira, himself unfamiliar with immorality
and wickedness, regarded others to be as honest as himself. The eldest son of
Pritha (son of Kunti, i.e., Yudhishthira), filled with brotherly love, going to his
mother, said, after making salutation to her, ‘O mother, has Bhima come? O good
mother, I don't find him here. Where may he have gone? We long searched for him
everywhere in the gardens and the beautiful woods; but found him nowhere. At
length, we thought that the heroic Bhima went before us all. O respected lady,
we came here in great anxiety. Arrived here, where has he gone? Have you sent
him anywhere? O tell me, I am full of doubts respecting the mighty Bhima. He
had been asleep and has not come. I conclude he is no more.’
“Hearing these words of the highly intelligent
Yudhishthira, Kunti shrieked, in alarm, and said, ‘Dear son, I have not seen
Bhima. He did not come to me. O, quickly return, and with your brothers search
for him.’
“Having said this in pain to her eldest son, she called
Vidura, and said, ‘O respectful Kshattri (Vidura), Bhimasena is missing! Where has he gone?
The other brothers have all come back from the gardens, only Bhima of mighty
arms does not come home! Duryodhana likes him not. The Kaurava (Duryodhana) is crooked, malicious, low-minded and rash.
He desires the throne openly. I am afraid he may have in a fit of anger slain
my darling. This pains me sorely, indeed, it burns my heart.’
“Vidura replied, ‘Blessed lady, do not say so! Protect
your other sons with care. If the wicked Duryodhana be accused, he may slay thy
remaining sons. The Maharishi (Vyasa) has said that all your sons will be
long-lived. Therefore, Bhima will surely return and gladden your heart.’
“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘The wise Vidura, having
said this to Kunti, returned to his abode, while Kunti, in great anxiety,
continued to stay at home with her children.
“Meanwhile, Bhimasena awoke from that slumber on the
eighth day, and felt strong beyond measure in consequence of the rasakunda he
had taken having been all digested. Seeing him awake, the Naagas began to console
and cheer him, saying, ‘O you of mighty arms (Bhimasena), the strength-giving drink you had drunk
will give you the might of ten thousand elephants! No one now will be able to
vanquish you in fight. O bull of Kuru's race, you do bath in this holy and
auspicious water and return home. Your brothers are sad because of you.’
“Then Bhima purified himself with a bath in those
waters, and decked in white garments and flowery garlands of the same colour,
ate of the paramanna (rice and sugar pudding) offered to him by the Naagas. Then that
oppressor of all enemies (Bhimasena),
decked in divine ornaments, received the adorations and blessings of Naagas,
and saluting them in return, rose from the Naagaloka. Bearing up the lotus-eyed
Pandava from under the waters, the Naagas placed him in the selfsame gardens in
which he had been sporting, and vanished in his very sight.
“The mighty Bhimasena, arrived on the surface of the
earth, ran with speed to his mother. Bowing down unto her and his eldest
brother (Yudhishthira), and smelling the heads of his younger brothers, that oppressor of all
enemies was himself embraced by his mother and every one of those bulls among
men. Affectionate to one another, they all repeatedly exclaimed, ‘What a joy
today, O what joy!’
“Then Bhima, endued with great strength and skills, told
to his brothers everything about the villainy of Duryodhana, and the lucky and
unlucky incidents that had overtaken him in the world of Naagas. Immediately
Yudhishthira said, ‘You do observe silence on this. Do not speak of this to anyone.
From this day, you all protect one another with care.’ Thus cautioned by the Dharmic
Yudhishthira, they all, with Yudhishthira himself, became very observant from
that day. To avoid the risk of negligence might occur on the part of the sons
of Kunti, Vidura continually offered them wise advice.
“Some time after, Duryodhana again mixed in the food
of Bhima a poison that was fresh, lethal, and very deadly. But Yuyutsu (Dhritarashtra's son by a Vaishya wife), moved by his friendship for the Pandavas, informed them of this.
Vrikodara (Bhimasena), however,
swallowed it without any hesitation, and digested it completely. Though deadly,
the poison produced no effects on Bhima.
“When that terrible poison intended for the
destruction of Bhima failed of its effect, Duryodhana. Karna and Shakuni,
without giving up their wicked design had utilise to numerous other schemes for
accomplishing the death of the Pandavas. Though every one of these schemes was
fully known to the Pandavas, yet in accordance with the advice of Vidura they
suppressed their anger.
“Meanwhile,
the king (Dhritarashtra), seeing the Kuru princes passing their
time in idleness and growing naughty, appointed Gautama (popularly known as
Kripa) as their Guru and sent them to
him for instruction. Born among a cluster of uncultivated wasteland, Gautama
was well-skilled in the Vedas and it was under him (also called Kripa) that the Kuru princes began to learn the
use of arms (Dhanurveda).’”
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