Duryodhana plots to kill Bheema

We have seen how the Kauravas could not stand the superior strength of Bheema while playing in their childhoos days. Finally, Duryodhana decided to act and put an end to what he took as the tyranny of Bheema.
He once suggested that they all go to the river Ganga and engage in various water sports. All, including the Pandavas, were in full agreement without suspecting the vile intentions of Duryodhana. He, on his part, made elaborate arrangements for food and rest. Various tents were erected along the banks of the river and were decorated with bright colours to give it a festive look. Sumptuous food and drinks of all type were ready. Then, they started merry making in the river.
That day the Kauravas made every effort to make the Pandavas, especially Bheema, happy. There was no trace of any enmity among them. Bheema was at his best, helping the rest on every possible occasion.
When the time for food came Duryodhana went out of his way to feed Bheema with delicious food and excellent drinks. He made sure that Bheema ate and drank to his fill. Poor Bheema went on consuming food and drinks without suspecting any foul play. Duryodhana had made secret arrangements to poison the food kept separately for Bheema.
Everyone then retired to one’s own tent for rest. Bheema had exerted himself in the games and had consumed so much food and drinks that he fell into deep sleep right away. Duryodhana and some of his trusted associates sneaked out to Bheema’s tent later and found him asleep like a dead log. They wound him with strong vines and pushed him into the middle of the river.
Bheema sank into the river bottom and reached the land of the snakes. He was attacked by a large army of poisonous snakes and they all started biting him on every inch of his body. The poison from the snake bite must have acted as antidote to what Duryodhana administered on Bheema. To the surprise of the snakes, Bheema woke up from his deep sleep and started breaking free from his bondage, at the same time kicking all the snakes around him away.
The snakes reported the matter of the strange creature that withstood all their bites and hit them back in return to their king, Vasuki. Vasuki with his divine powers immediately understood who their guest was. He , in consultation with his ministers , wanted to send Bheema back to the world of humans with a suitable gift. They decided to offer him the special elixir in possession of the snakes . It was said that one pitcher-full of that would make anyone as strong as one thousand elephants. Bheema was offered to drink as much as he could . It was said that he finished off eight full pitchers in one breath. Then, he slept for eight days in the divine abode of Vasuki.
The merry making party of Kauravas and Pandavas had , in the meanwhile, returned home to the palace. Everyone was in high spirits after enjoying themselves from the outing. So, even the Pandavas forgot to find out , whether Bheema returned with them.
But, Kunti, not finding her son asked about him. Everyone said that he was surely with them all through the games and subsequent meals. They all saw him retiring to his tent. So, they assumed that he would have returned too, probably ahead of them.
Since he was not to be found anywhere in the palace all returned to the river side and searched everywhere. There was no traced of Bheema anywhere.
Kunti was worried. She knew about the enmity that was brewing between her sons and those of Gandhari. She also had sensed that Bheema was their special target. Would they have done something to him ?
But, the wise words of Vidura comforted her. Vidura said that all her sons would live long and no calamity would befall them.
The search continued for days which extended even to the forest around. There was still no trace of Bheema.
Then, one day he reappeared and reported all that happened to his eldest brother in confidence. The wise Yudhishthira realized the extent of threat that loomed large over him and his brothers. He thought that it would be best that they hushed up the whole affair .
From that day onwards the Pandavas remained extremely alert to possible dangers from the Kauravas. Yet, thy continued living and playing together as before as though nothing happened.We shall see how the above incident blew up into a full scale war later.