20. REUNION BETWEEN PANDAVA BROTHERS

Since Bhim went missing, his brothers went about their daily chores but as if they were lifeless. For past some time the boys were taking their arms training from the revered Kripacharya. The vanishing of Bhim had snatched their interest to live, let alone learn. However, Duryodhan seemed to be very ebullient and happy which confirmed their suspicion that he had a role in Bhim’s disappearance.

 

On the eighth morning as the crest-fallen brothers were preparing to go for yet another day’s routine arms lessons, there was  huge banging on the door. Yudhisthir opened it, and the sweetest surprise was waiting to unravel. On the other side of the door stood Bhim dressed in elegant white. He appeared full of strength and vigour. There was a tearful reunion and Bhim narrated the full story starting from how he was poisoned by Duryodhan. The family decided that from now on the brothers should remain very alert and protect each other. They knew their fear was not imaginary and that dangers could arise any time from known or unknown sources. At the same time, Yudhisthir advised that it would be unwise to let their cousins know that they have found out the intentions and role of Duryodhan. Five brothers decided they would pretend as if they knew nothing.

 

Duryodhan and Dushashan were surprised to see Bhim back. Not only that, they were intrigued to find out he has grown much stronger on return. They could not solve the riddle. Visibly unhappy and dismayed they kept looking for next chances to harm their cousins.

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.

18. Vasuki, the king of the serpent country, embraces Bhim

Some distance away, the battle was still raging. The snakes would have numbered to several hundreds. But, by now, most preferred to slip into crevices in the watery rocks. During this time, the huge frame of Vasuki could be seen approaching from the west. It did not take long for Bhim to take notice of the towering figure. For a moment, Bhim did feel that this fight may not be an easy one. However, as it was to be, Vasuki’s appearance itself had a calming influence on everyone present, including Bhim. The fierce combat stopped. Looking at the graceful, charming and presently gravely injured Bhim, Basuki was suddenly flooded with tender feelings and he said:

 

‘Young man, you seem to be a prince. What’s your name? Tell me, how did you land here?’

Although generally aggressive, Bhim was touched by the affection. He responded:

‘I am Bhim, son of queen Kunti’.

Curious and beginning to understand the reasons for his attraction for the young lad, Vasuki said,

‘Kunti!  You mean the daughter of King Kunti Bhoj?’

‘Yes Sir. Precisely so. Do you know her?’

Vasuki rushed and embraced Bhim and said,

‘Very much dear. She is my granddaughter. I am so happy that I ‘m meeting her son today. Son! Come closer, give me a hug.’

17. Snakes run away ftom Bhim, rushes to Vasuki

With hundreds of poisonous snakes wriggling around his body hissing in anger and biting without relent, any one else would have been mortally afraid. But Bhim knew no fear. His first action was to tear asunder the ropes that restricted his mobility. Then caught hold of some of his enemies by their tail, tossed them around and threw away. Yet some others were simply crushed to death. The snakes were already upset that the venom, their most potent weapon, was of no use against this strange enemy. On top of that they were least prepared for a full-scale physical assault. Soon they were discomfited, left the field and rushed to Vasuki, their revered king.  

As they began to narrate their ordeal, their voices quivered in fear:

‘Your highness, the lord of the Nagaloka! …No less than a wonder that we are able to present ourselves to your majesty, our body and soul together,... not an iota of exaggeration this, Master, believe us...’.

The huge frame of the king was calm, while he learned about the extraordinary boy with amused attention.

‘We had to exercise all tricks at our command to escape from that boy. He verily looks the incarnation of death and has been causing mayhem in your peaceful kingdom. We submit your majesty visit the place – that backyard of death without delay.’

16. Bhim in the country of serpents

Both the land and sky were enveloped by the darkness of the night. This added to the mystery of the river womb, which also came under the spell of the night and seemed to have turned black. However, the continuous stream of water kept moving southwards as if in a procession bound for the sea. As Bhim, with his hands and legs securely tied, was drifting towards the riverbed, the streams passing across seemed to caress his body and say, ‘Son, you are safe here’.

For long he remained unconscious under the influence of a strong poison administered to him through the eatables. After landing in the riverbed, he started regaining consciousness amidst painful feelings of being bitten all over by sharp teeth of some creatures. Opening eyes he discovered that angry-looking snakes of various sizes and hues surrounded him. He did not know while landing on the riverbed his body fell over a medley of baby snakes literally mauling them. The cries of these babies had attracted the elders who were furious at this unwanted visitor. They unleashed their anger by biting his huge body all over. The venom their sting carried worked for a contrary purpose, as was destined. The earlier poison in his body was counteracted and Bhim came back from the jaws of death.

15. FRANTIC SEARCH FOR BHIM, NO RESULT

In the dying sunlight, Yudhisthir and his brothers were frantically searching for Bhim on the bank of the Ganges. The bonhomie, the celebration, and the feasting that enlivened the place hours ago were now replaced by an eerie silence. On that vast expanse of land there was no soul other than they four. Even servants had left after cleaning the site. Soon, the last trace of the day was devoured by the enigmatic night, which would not approve of any further searches. The brothers too were realizing it was pointless to keep groping in the darkness, yet they could not abandon their mission. But when the face of the lone, helpless, anxious mother flashed in their mind they decided to give in. Back home, the family huddled together discussing what was to be done now.

 All these days Kunti had a nagging fear that Duryodhan and some of his brothers might harm her sons, especially Bhim, whom they hated as they could never match his strength. Now that the search failed to trace Bhim, Kunti started feeling nervous. She suspected Duryodhan to have played a grave mischief but she also knew it would be of no use telling Dhritarashtra or Gandhari of her suspicion. The couple were blind in their affection for their son. Yudhisthir agreed to Kunti’s assessment. The family then brooded for some time as to what should be done now. Then they stumbled on the idea of meeting Bidur whom they reckoned was genuinely concerned about their welfare.

14. Bhim tied and drowned in the river

At the palace, Kunti had good reason to worry. The day was wearing out. Both Pandava and Kaurava children had returned home. But, Bhim was not to be seen anywhere. She started growing restive.

 Sensing his Mother’s tension, and assessing the situation, Yudhishthir with his brothers left for the riverbank to see if Bhim was still sleeping.

There at that spot, Duryadhan and Dushashan were busy executing the last leg of their plan. Duryadhan was tense. With keen eyes scanning all around, he spoke in hushed tones:

“Let us finish off quick. It will not be long before those four turn up searching here”.

Dushashan was busy tying up Bhim’s sleeping body. It was huge, and the light was dim. It was getting difficult and irritating for him. Somehow he coped with the enormous task and hapily announced:

“Almost done! Wont be long before we get rid of this monster, for ever”.

 In a moment, Duryadhan and Dushashan together dragged Bhim’s tied body to the shore of Ganges and dropped it in the water. With that, Duryadhan heaved a big sigh of relief. The duo then silently disappeared from the scene.