Encounter with the demon Hidimba

The Pandavas continued their journey through the forest after the narrow escape from the house of wax. The five princes grew beard and matted their hair to give the appearance of Brahmins doing penance in the forest. Thus, they moved forward in the forest . Their aim was to find a village or town in which they could stay without drawing the attention of Duryodhana.
They ate whatever fruit or roots they found in the forest and drank water from nearby pools. They slept on the bare mud. Bheema would keep watch at night so that no wild animals would harm them. While keeping guard Bheema used to think of their fate. Until a few months back they lived in the comfort of the royal palace and were the focus of all admiring eyes. His elder brother was installed as the crown prince. Now they lived hiding in the forest like hunted animals. Duryodhana made all the cunning moves which landed them in the forest. Bheema’s anger towards the Kaurava grew day by day thinking about all the evil deeds of his arch enemy.

An Encounter with a formidable foe

There lived in that forest a demon by name Hidimba with his sister, Hidimbi. Such dangerous demons, known as Raakshasas, were essentially man eaters. They were physically so powerful that normal human beings were no match for them. They also had such special powers that they could disappear and re-appear at will and fly in the air like birds.

Hidimba came across the wandering Pandavas by chance. It had been quite a while since he had his favourite meal of human flesh. So, he asked his sister to kill the five Pandavas along with their mother and prepare a feast of human meat. Accordingly, Hidimbi went to the place where the Pandavas slept.

Bheemaseana was keeping guard. The sight of his handsome figure sowed the seeds of first love in Hidimbi. She was in no mood to kill any of them. Instead, she changed herself into the form of a beautiful maiden and approached Bheema.

Bheema was surprised to find a beautiful woman in the thick forest and asked her who she was. Hidimbi told him her true story. She warned him of her ferocious brother who was waiting to kill and eat them all. She would protect Bheema from him, provided Bheema accepted her as wife. They could together escape to the beautiful hills and streams in far way forests and enjoy life.
Bheema could only laugh.at her silly words. He was there to keep guard of his brothers and mother. He feared none on earth or in the other worlds, be it a human or a demon. Besides, he was not interested in her either.

Meanwhile, Hidimba grew impatient not finding his sister with his meal in time. So he appeared on the scene and overheard the conversation between the two. A terrible rage grew him and he rushed to his sister with the intention of killing her before he finished the rest.

Bheema blocked the way of the demon and challenged him for a fight. A terrible fight ensued between the mighty Pandava and the powerful Hidimba. The noise of their battle awoke the sleeping Kunti and her other sons. Arjuna offered to help Bheema in his fight. Bheema did not need any. After a prolonged battle Bheema killed Hidimba with his bare hands.

When the battle was over and her dangerous brother killed Hidimbi approached Bheema again with her submission of love. Bheema, still, did not care for her. He would rather send her along the same path to which he dispatched her brother.

Hidimbi then spoke to the royal mother, Kunti. She told her of her pangs of love towards Bheema and implored the queen to support her cause.

It was Yudhishthira who came to the aid of Hidimbi. He approved of the relationship and told Bheema accordingly. He would permit her to live with Bheema during the day, provided she sent him back every night. (It is said that the demons slept during day and were awake at night, exactly opposite to what humans did. Hence, they are called Raatreenchara, those who move around at night). Bheema, finally, yielded . He told Hidimbi that he would be with her until a child was born to her. Hidimbi agreed to all those conditions. Accordingly, she disappeared with Bheema into the forest.

A boy was born to Bheema in Hidimbi who was named Ghatotkacha. His birth and growth took place in a very short time as is said to be the case with demons.

Hidimbi disappeared from the life of the Pandavas after the boy was born to her. The son of Bheema prostrated before his grandmother and wanted to take leave as well. He asked Kunti what service he could lend to her. Kunti told him that he was the first born in the family and that he should come to their aid as and when the occasion arose. Ghatotkacha agreed. He would get the message anytime they thought of him and come to their side. So saying he also disappeared.
With the birth of a son to Bheema in Hidimbi the chapter called “killing of Hidimba” ends. This Ghatotkacha became the hero of one of the most vital battle of Mahabharata.