The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 157

Section CLVII. ( *Hidimva-badha Parva continued.* ) Vaisampayana said, "Bhima, beholding Hidimvā following them, addressed her, saying, the Rakshas revenge themselves on their enemies by adopting deceptions that are incapble of being penetrated. Therefore, O Hidimvā, go thou the way on which thy brother hath gone!' Then Yudhish-thira, beholding Bhima in rage, said, 'O Bhima,' O thou tiger among men, however enraged, do not slay a woman! O Pandava, the observance of virtue is a higher duty than the protection of life! Hidimva who had come with the object of slaying us thou hast already slain. This woman is the sister of that Rakshasa. What can she de to us even if she were angry?'" Vaisampayana continued, "Then Hidimvā, reverentially saluting Kunti and her son Yudhish-thira also, said, with joined palms, 'O reverend lady, thou knowest the pangs that women are made to feel at the hands of Ananga (the deity of love)! Blessed dame, those pangs, of which Bhima-sena hath been the cause, are torturing me! I had hitherto borne those insufferable pangs, waiting for the time (when thy son could assuage them). That time is now come, when I expected I would be made happy! Casting off my friends and relatives and the usages of my race, I have, ○ blessed lady, chosen this son of thine—this tiger among men—as my husband! I tell thee truly, O illustrious lady, that if I am cast off by that hero or by thee either, I will no longer bear this life of mine! Therefore, O thou of the fairest complexion, it behoveth thee to show me mercy, thinking me either as very silly or thy obedient slave! O illustrious dame, unite me with this thy son and my husband! Endued as he is with the form of a celestial, taking him with me, let me go wherever I like. Trust me, O blessed lady, I will again bring him back unto ye all! When ye think of me I will come to ye immediately and convey ye whithersoever ye may command! I will rescue ye from all dangers and carry ye across inaccessible and uneven regions! I will carry ye on my back whenever ye desire to proceed with swiftness. O be graceful unto me and make Bhima accept me! It hath been said that in a season of distress one should protect his life by any means. He that seeketh to discharge that duty should not scruple about the means. He that in a season of distress keepeth his virtue is the foremost of virtuous men. Indeed, distress is the greatest danger to virtue and virtuous men. It is virtue that protecteth life, therefore, is virtue called the giver of life. Hence, the means by which virtue or the observance of a duty is secured can never be censurable.' "Hearing these words of Hidimvā, Yudhish-thira said, 'It is even so, O Hidimvā, as thou sayest. There is no doubt of it. But, O thou of slender-waist, thou must act even as thou hast said! Bhima will, after he hath washed himself and said his prayers and performed the usual propitiatory rites, pay his attentions to thee till the sun sets. Sport thou with him as thou likest, during the day, O thou endued with the speed of the mind! But thou must bring Bhima-sena hither every day at nightfall.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Then Bhima, expressing his assent to all that Yudhis-thira said, addressed Hidimvā, saying, 'Listen to me, O Rakshasa woman! Truly do make this engagement with thee that I will stay with thee, O thou of slender waist, until thou obtainest a son! Then Hidimvā, saying, 'So be it,' took Bhima upon her body and sped through the skies. On mountain peaks of picturesque scenery and regions sacred to the gods, abouning with dappled herds and echoing with the melodies of feathered tribes, herself assuming the handsomest form decked with every ornament and pouring forth at times mellifluous strains, Hidimvā sported with the Pandava and studied to make him happy. So also in inaccessible regions of forests, and on mountain-breasts overgrown with blossoming trees, on lakes resplendent with lotuses and lilies, islands of rivers and their pebbly banks, on sylvan streams with beautiful banks and mountain currents, in picturesque woods with blossoming trees and creepers, in Himalyan bowers, and various caves, on crystal pools smiling with lotuses, on sea-shores shining with gold and pearls, in beautiful towns and fine gardens, in woods sacred to the gods and on hill-sides, in the regions of the Guhyakas and of ascetics, on the banks of the Manasasarawara abounding with the fruits and flowers of every season, Hidimvā, assuming the handsomest form, sported with Bhima and studied to make him happy. Endued with the speed of the mind, she sported with Bhima in all these regions, till, in time, she conceived and brought forth a mighty son begotten upon her by the Pandava. Of terrible eyes and large mouth and straight arrowy ears, the child was terrible to behold. Of lips brown as copper and sharp teeth and loud roar, of mighty arms and great strength and excessive prowess, this child became a mighty bowman. Of long nose, broad chest, frightfully swelling calves, celerity of motion and excessive strength, he had nothing human in his countenance though born of man. And he excelled (in strength and prowess) all Pishachas and kindred tribes as well as all, Rakshasas. And, O monarch, though an infant he grew up a youth the very hour he was born. The mighty hero soon acquired high proficiency in all weapons. The Rakshasa women bring forth the very day they conceive, and capable of assuming any form at will, they always change their forms (for the purposes at hand). And the bald-headed child—that mighty bowman—soon after his birth, bowing down to his mother touched her feet and touched the feet also of his father. His parents then bestowed upon him a name. His mother having remarked that his head was (bald) like unto a *Ghata* (water-pot), both his parents thereupon called him *Ghatotkacha* (the pot-headed). And Ghatotkacha was exceedingly devoted to the Pandavas. And he became a great favorite with them, indeed, almost one of them. "Then Hidimvā, knowing that the period of her stay (with her husband) had come to an end, saluted the Pandavas and making a new appointment with them went away whithersoever she liked. And Ghatotkacha also--that foremost of Rakshasas--promising unto his fathers that he would come when wanted for business, saluted them and went away northwards. Indeed, it was the illustrious Indra who created (by lending a portion of himself) the mighty charioteer Ghatotkacha as a fit antagonist for Karna of unrivalled energy, in consequence of the *Shakti* (missile) Indra had given unto Karna (and which was sure to kill the person against whom it would be hurled)." Thus ends the hundred and fifty-sevenh Section in the Hidimva-badha of the Adi Pauva.