Bhima

The five Pandavas and the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, who were called the Kauravas, began living together in Hastinapur. They would engage in games, laughter, and fun together. Among them, Bhima, the son of Pandu, stood out in physical strength. During games, he would often annoy Duryodhana and his brothers. Although Bhima harbored no ill will toward anyone and acted this way due to the enthusiasm of childhood, Duryodhana and his brothers began to feel enmity toward him.

In the meantime, as the children grew older, they began learning weaponry and other skills under Kripacharya's guidance. The Pandavas excelled over the Kauravas in their studies, which added to the latter's irritation. Duryodhana tried every possible means to demean the Pandavas, but he particularly did not get along with Bhima.

Once, the Kauravas hatched a plan to drown Bhima in the Ganges and kill him. They decided that after Bhima's death, they would imprison Yudhishthira, Arjuna, and others to seize control of the entire kingdom. Duryodhana organized a grand water-sport event and invited the five Pandavas to participate. After playing and swimming for a long time, everyone had food and retired to their tents to rest. Duryodhana deceitfully mixed poison in Bhima's food. As everyone fell into deep sleep from exhaustion, the poison took effect on Bhima, leaving him heavily intoxicated. Unable to reach his tent, Bhima collapsed on the sands beside the Ganges. Taking advantage of the situation, Duryodhana tied Bhima's hands and feet with creepers and let him drift away into the river.

As Bhima's bound body floated away in the river's current, Duryodhana silently rejoiced, thinking Bhima's end had come. Meanwhile, when Yudhishthira and the others awoke and realized Bhima was missing, the four brothers searched the entire forest and the riverbank where the water-sport activities had taken place, but they found no sign of him. Disheartened and sorrowful, they returned to their palace, only to see Bhima staggering back. The joy of the Pandavas and Kunti knew no bounds! Yudhishthira, Kunti, and others embraced Bhima warmly. However, the incident deeply worried Kunti. She summoned Vidura and confided her concerns, saying, "Evil Duryodhana is surely plotting something. Driven by greed for the kingdom, he wants to kill Bhima. This worries me greatly."

The politically wise Vidura advised Kunti, "You are right, but it is prudent to keep this matter to yourself. Openly criticizing Duryodhana will only increase his animosity."

Bhima was deeply agitated by this incident. However, Yudhishthira consoled him, saying, "Brother Bhima, the time is not yet ripe. You must compose yourself. For now, our priority as brothers is to protect and support one another in any way we can."

Duryodhana was astounded to see Bhima return and burned with even greater jealousy and anger.