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Wednesday, December 09, 2015

Escape into the forests - Hidimva

Vidura had sent a trusted aide in the forests to guide the Pandavas. This person guided the Pandavas on to the Ganges and helped them cross the river. He then said that Vidura had told the Pandavas to be careful.
In Varnavrata, when the people came and walked into the smoldering house of lac, they saw the bodies of Purochana, Nishada woman andher sons and thinking that the Pandavas were dead, started lamenting.
In Hastinapur, Dhritarashtra and his sons performed the last rites for the Pandavas

Meanwhile, the Pandavas in a group of six. Bhima lifted Kunti and the younger brothers, and they all walked in carefully , deep into the forest.

The huge and mighty Bhima walked, crushing trees and making way for the others. He was passing through like a herd of wild elephants in the forests. Crossing streams and small rivers, the Pandavas disguised themselves in the forest. They then reached a deep part of the forest where fruit trees were few and not much water was around. All they could hear was the sounds made by birds and animals of the forest. Tired, the Pandavas decided to rest there for sometime. Kunti was very thirsty and seeing her in a sad condition, Bhima decided to go and get some water. Wandering around, he came across a lake where he freshened himself and then wetting his garments he came and started giving them water by wringing his clothes. He was sad to see this condition of Kunti and the Pandavas. Kings and Queens who were used to soft beds were now having to spend their days in the hard forest ground. He decided to stay awake and guard his brothers and mother while they slept.

Not far from the place where the Pandavas were asleep, lived a Rakshasha Hidimva. Roaming around in the forest looking for food, he saw the Pandavas. He was hungry and human flesh would suit him well. His sister was with him. He asked his sister to go, kill the people and bring them to him, so that the two could have a hearty meal. The sister, also called Hidimva, went to the forest and there she saw Bhima guarding the brothers. It was love at first sight for her. She was in love with Bhima. She wanted to marry Bhima and for the first time in her life, she went against her brother's wishes. She decked her self with ornaments and walking modestly approached Bhima and wanted to know what he was doing in this forest. She also said that there was a wicked Rakshasha in the forest who wanted to kill them and so they needed to be careful and should escape. She said the Rakshasha was her brother and she wanted to help Bhima escape, as she was in love with him.
Bhima addressed her said he could not abandon his mother and brothers for her. The Rakshashi asked him to then awaken all, so that she could help all escape from there.
Bhima said he was not afraid of her brother and he would not move like a coward. He said his brothers and mother were tired and he would not awaken them.

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