Saturday, September 15, 2012

19. RETURN OF BHIM


As the relationship was unveiled, the tension and enmity disappeared as if in flash. After a hearty embrace by the grand dad, Bhim was ushered into the palace. He was badly injured and exhausted. Vasuki took every care to nurse him back to health. Some of his ministers suggested that Bhim be given ‘nectar’ for drinking. It was a very generous suggestion as Nagaloka reserved this rare drink for very special purposes.  The fiercest and strongest of the Naga soldiers safeguarded this drink for ages. As the king happily agreed to the proposition, the most coveted beverage in the earth was served to his young descendant. Before the tender and caring eyes of his hosts the Pandava drank the nectar. And it was sheer magic. All his tire and fatigue vanished and what is more, he felt his whole self was inundated by endless waves of energy as if those flowed from an infinite storehouse. As he was trying to make out the reason for his sudden transformation, Vasuki affectionately said that this nectar has now invested him with the strength of a thousand of adult elephants. Even earlier Bhim had great physical strength. Now he felt he could shake the earth.

 Bhim had a pleasant stay in the Nagalok. On the eighth day, Vasuki said,

 ‘Son, how I wish you stayed here for many more days. But I am worried about your mother and brothers. They must have turned a tormented lot by now. It would be selfish to detain you here. You should return to them without more delay.’

The strange course of events over the last few days had Bhim nearly forget his family. As soon as they came into his mind, he was nostalgic and prepared to return. Dressed in an elegant white cloth and forehead smeared with sandal powder he took leave of his great grandfather. A few giant snakes carried him on their hood and reached them on the riverbank. Bubbling with energy and enthusiasm, Bhim started for his home.

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