With the untimely death of their father, King Pandu, the five Pandava brothers—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—found themselves uprooted from the simplicity of their forest dwelling. Accustomed to the rustic charm of nature and the teachings of sages, they were suddenly thrust into the dazzling opulence of Hastinapura, the grand capital of the Kuru kingdom.

The Kauravas, their cousins and sons of the blind King Dhritarashtra, watched the Pandavas’ triumphant entry with barely concealed envy. Duryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, felt particularly threatened by the Pandavas’ presence, seeing them as obstacles to his ambition of inheriting the throne.

“Look how the people fawn over them,” Duryodhana muttered bitterly to his brothers. “As if they’re already the rulers of Hastinapura. Have they forgotten that we are the sons of the current king?”

Childhood Rivalries

As the Pandavas settled into their new life, their talents quickly became apparent. In every game, sport, and academic pursuit, they excelled, earning admiration from their teachers and peers alike. Yudhishthira’s wisdom, Arjuna’s archery skills, and the twins’ mastery of weaponry were widely praised.

But it was Bhima, the second Pandava, whose prowess truly stood out. Blessed with extraordinary strength from birth, Bhima’s physical feats were the stuff of legend. He could uproot trees with ease, wrestle wild elephants, and lift boulders that no other man could budge.

However, Bhima’s strength also became a source of tension. In his youthful exuberance, he often engaged in rough play with the Kauravas, unaware of the impact of his actions.

“It’s just a bit of fun!” Bhima would laugh as he tossed his cousins into ponds or held them underwater until they gasped for air. “Come on, cousins, surely you can take a little joke?”

The Sinister Plot

As the years passed, Duryodhana’s jealousy grew. He saw Bhima as a threat to his ambitions, for who could stand against such immense strength? Consumed by envy and fear, Duryodhana began to plot Bhima’s demise.

Duryodhana enlisted the help of a renowned architect to construct a magnificent palace at Pramana Koti, on the banks of a serene river. This palace was a marvel, boasting intricate carvings, shimmering fountains, and tranquil lotus-filled tanks.

Once the palace was complete, Duryodhana extended a seemingly gracious invitation to the Pandavas. “My dear cousins,” he said with false warmth, “I’ve built this retreat for all of us to enjoy. Won’t you come and stay for a while?”

The Pandavaa accepted gladly. During their stay, Duryodhana prepared a special feast, with a tray of Bhima’s favorite delicacies secretly laced with the deadly kalakuta poison.

“Eat up, dear cousin,” Duryodhana said, his false smile masking his murderous intent. “I had this prepared especially for you, knowing your legendary appetite.”

Bhima, always eager for a good meal, ate with gusto, oblivious to the danger lurking in every bite. “This is delicious!” he exclaimed between mouthfuls. “You’ve outdone yourself, Duryodhana.”

Later, as the poison took effect, an unusually fatigued Bhima collapsed on the riverbank. Seizing the opportunity, Duryodhana, with the help of his loyal companions, bound the unconscious Bhima with strong vines and dumped him into the deep waters of the river.

“Farewell, mighty Bhima,” Duryodhana sneered as he watched Bhima’s body disappear beneath the waves. “Let’s see how your strength saves you now.”

The Naga Kingdom

As Bhima sank into the murky depths, he met another challenge. The river bottom was home to the Nagas, a race of serpent beings known for their magical abilities and connection to the cosmic forces. Thousands of these serpents, sensing an intruder in their realm, swarmed around Bhima and bit him repeatedly.

In a twist of divine irony, the venom of the Nagas acted as an antidote to the kalakuta poison, gradually reviving Bhima. As he regained consciousness, Bhima found himself in a strange, shimmering underwater kingdom, surrounded by curious and somewhat fearful serpents.

Disoriented but ever-ready for a fight, Bhima began to defend himself against the Nagas. The commotion attracted the attention of Vasuki, the wise and powerful king of the Nagas.

“Who are you, and why have you intruded upon our realm?” Vasuki demanded, his voice echoing through the watery domain.

Before Bhima could answer, Aryaka, a respected elder among the Nagas and, unknown to Bhima, his own great-grandfather on his mother’s side, pushed through the crowd.

“Wait!” Aryaka exclaimed, his eyes wide with recognition. “This is my descendant!” He rushed forward to embrace Bhima, explaining their familial connection.

A Gift of Strength

Impressed by Bhima’s resilience, Vasuki decided to bestow a gift upon the young prince. Rather than offering wealth or jewels, Vasuki presented Bhima with something far more valuable—a magical elixir that would grant him immense strength.

“This nectar,” Vasuki explained, “is distilled from the essence of the earth itself. It will grant you the strength of a thousand elephants.”

Bhima, never one to shy away from a challenge, eagerly accepted the gift. “Only a thousand?” he joked. “Well, I suppose that’s a start.”

To everyone’s amazement, Bhima drank not one, not two, but eight full pots of the potent nectar. The sheer power of the elixir overwhelmed even Bhima’s robust constitution, plunging him into a deep slumber that lasted eight full days.

During this time, his body underwent a remarkable transformation. Every muscle fiber, every bone, every sinew was infused with supernatural strength. The already formidable Bhima was becoming truly invincible.

Return of the Hero

Meanwhile, in Hastinapura, Bhima’s family was frantic with worry. The other Pandavas had returned, assuming Bhima had gone ahead, but as days passed with no sign of him, fear gripped their hearts.

Kunti, their mother, was inconsolable. “Where is my son?” she cried, her voice thick with anguish. “Has some tragedy befallen him? Oh, Bhima, my strong one, where are you?”

Vidura, the wise counselor of Hastinapura, reassured Kunti, “Have faith, dear sister. Your sons have been blessed with long life by the great sages. Bhima will return to us, I am certain of it.”

True to Vidura’s words, on the eighth day, Bhima awoke in the Naga realm, feeling an unprecedented surge of power coursing through his body. The Nagas, now in awe of the transformed prince, hailed him as a god among men.

“You now possess the strength of ten thousand elephants,” they proclaimed. “No mortal will be able to defeat you in combat.”

With gratitude in his heart and newfound power in his limbs, Bhima bid farewell to his Naga kin and ascended to the surface world. His return to Hastinapura was nothing short of miraculous. The city erupted in celebration, with citizens lining the streets to catch a glimpse of the returned hero.

For Kunti and the other Pandavas, Bhima’s return was a moment of indescribable joy and relief. As they embraced their long-lost brother and son, they sensed a change in him—a new aura of invincibility that seemed to radiate from his very being.

“Brother!” Yudhishthira exclaimed, embracing Bhima tightly. “We feared we’d lost you forever! Where have you been?”

Bhima grinned, flexing his enhanced muscles. “It’s a long story, brother. Let’s just say it’ll take more than a little swim to keep me down.”