Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Rishi Vaishampayana narrated
‘There was a hideous demon Hidimbha who lived in a Sala Vruksham in the woods
where the Pandavas were settled, he was so powerful and was yearning to consume
human flesh so long. He had a dreadful
atypical physique and horrible face, he has long feet and hands, eyes were
blood red, he had pot belly and crimson colored hair all over the body, two
long and sharp protruding teeth gave out a ghastly look, he was edgily waiting
for the human flesh to consume. He was
settled in a Sala tree thoroughly observing the woods; unexpectedly there he
found the sons of Pandu were fast asleep on the ground. He was deviously enjoying the smell of human
flesh with greed and hunger; he noticed that the Pandavas were in sound sleep
on the ground. Hidimbha spoke to his
sister “Oh! Dear sister, I have found my favorite meal after long time. The taste of the human flesh brings water in my
mouth, my sharp teeth is going to have much preferred meal after a long
time. I am going to cut off their throat
and veins; I will gulp down the hot blood oozing from their body at my heart’s
content. Therefore, you go and find out
who they are and kill them and bring their corpse, the smell of human flesh is piercing
my nose. They are sleeping in the wood
which belongs to me; you need not get scared of them. We can excessively consume the human flesh
and dance to the tunes.” Oh! King of
Bharatha dynasty, Hidimbhi who
equally enjoys the human flesh after
listening to the command of her brother Hidimbha, deceitfully moved to the
place where Pandavas settled. There she
found Pandavas sleeping on the ground with their mother, Bhima was meticulously
watching over them and he was wide awake.
Instantaneously, Hidimbhi fell in love with Bhima at first sight, his
attractive and powerful physique like Sala tree enticed her, she murmured to
herself ‘ He is the most charming man
with attractive physical features in
golden complexion, powerful arms and shoulders, conch shaped neck and beautiful
eyes like lotus petals, he is well deserved to be my husband. I will not follow the treacherous commands of
my brother anymore. It’s always great
feeling for a woman to be in love with her husband and it’s much stronger than the
affection to her brother. The pleasure
derived out of killing the Pandavas is momentary; if I did not kill them I can
live with them happily ever after.” Hidimbhi
who has the power to disguise in any form according to her wish, turned into a
beautiful young maiden decked in various jewels and gently walked towards
handsome Bhima with a smile on her lips, Hidimbhi mellifluously spoke to Bhima,
“Oh! Great warrior, where are you coming from? Who are you? Who are these divine people sleeping on the floor?
Oh! Sinless people, who is this graceful woman sleeping peacefully in this dark
forest, as if she is in her chamber. Do
you know that this dark forest is the dwelling place of a dreadful demon? I am
speaking the truth; this is the dwelling place of hideous demon Hidimbha. Oh! Men with divine personality, I have been
assigned by my brother Hidimbha to kill all of you and send your bodies as his
food. Honestly, I have fallen in love with you the
moment I witnessed your divine features, I wanted to protect you, I have decided
that I will not marry anyone other than you.
You are well aware of the responsibilities and righteousness, I request
you to show kindness to me after considering my plight of the situation. I am completely exhausted by the cupid arrows
of Lord Manmatha, I earnestly desire for your presence, accept me as your wife. Oh! Great warrior with strong arms, I will
protect you from the dreadful demon who desired to eat the flesh of
humans. We can peacefully live in the
stunning mountainous areas where humans cannot live, I can fly effortlessly
that I used to do for fun. You can live
peacefully and happily with me in the most interior part of the woods.” Bhima replied “Oh! Mischievous spirit, I am
living a life of an ascetic like a saint, how can I leave my brothers and
mother for you? How can I abandon my mother and brother who are fast asleep for
a demon and gratify my sensual pleasure?” Hidimbhi answered “Oh! Sinless
warrior, I am prepared to provide any kind of help, let them get out of the
sleep. I will protect all of you from
the flesh eating demon Hidimbha”. Bhima
said ‘Oh! Mischievous spirit, I cannot wake up my brothers and mother due to
the fear of your brother, they are peacefully sleeping on the ground, I am not
a coward and the demons cannot endure the power of my arms. Oh! Lady with
beautiful eyes, Humans or Yakshas or Gandharvas cannot withstand my immense
power. Oh! Gentle one, I am not worried about anything, it is your wish to stay
back or leave this place or bring back your brother to me.”
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
