Reading Notes: The Five Brothers: The Story of the Mahabharata, Part A
The jealousy and hatred Duryodana felt towards the Pandavas and Bima in particular started soon after the Pandavas arrived in Hastinapura. The Pandavas were stronger than all the Kauravas, and Bima, the strongest of the Pandavas, could beat all the Kauravas at once in any sport or test of physical strength. Bima used his ability to overpower the the Kauravas to bully them throughout their youth.
Duryodana was predisposed to jealousy and other evil feelings because when he was born he caused a lot of destruction throughout the kingdom and the king was advised to abandon his child. So, when Duryodana met the Pandavas and found out that they were better than them at most things, he grew deeply resentful of them. Duryodana focused his attention first on Bima and looked for a way to kill the strongest brother.
Duryodana came up with a plan to kill Bima. He invited the Pandavas and the Kauravas to the river and served them a feast. During the feast Duryodana served Bima poisoned food. After playing in the river and dominating every game Bima was very tired and lay down on the bank of the river to take a nap.
This was the opportunity Duryodana was looking for, and he tied Bima up and tossed him in the river.
Bima ended up sinking into a nest of Nagas, poisonous snakes, who attacked him biting him all over. The poison from the Nagas counteracted Duryodana's poison and Bima was revived. Bima easily defeated most of the Nagas, but a few were able to escape.
The Nagas that escaped returned with their king and some of his courtiers to where Bima was. One of the courtiers recognized Bima because he was friends with Kunti's father, Bima grandfather. The Naga king was impressed with Bima and decided to give him a gift. Bima was allowed to drink the king's elixir that bestowed on him the strength of a thousand elephants and invincibility in battle. After drinking the elixir Bima lay down and slept for a long time.
When Bima woke up he quickly returned to his mother and brothers who were very happy he was safe. He told them all of what Duryodana had done. They decided to keep it secret, but they also decided to be especially careful around Duryodana and to protect each other.
Bibliography.
The Five Brothers: The Story of the Mahabharata, by: Elizabeth Seeger, Chapter: The Sons of Pandu, Section: The Poisoning of Bima, Source
Duryodana was predisposed to jealousy and other evil feelings because when he was born he caused a lot of destruction throughout the kingdom and the king was advised to abandon his child. So, when Duryodana met the Pandavas and found out that they were better than them at most things, he grew deeply resentful of them. Duryodana focused his attention first on Bima and looked for a way to kill the strongest brother.
Duryodana came up with a plan to kill Bima. He invited the Pandavas and the Kauravas to the river and served them a feast. During the feast Duryodana served Bima poisoned food. After playing in the river and dominating every game Bima was very tired and lay down on the bank of the river to take a nap.
This was the opportunity Duryodana was looking for, and he tied Bima up and tossed him in the river.
By Ramnadayandatta Shastri Pandey [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Bima ended up sinking into a nest of Nagas, poisonous snakes, who attacked him biting him all over. The poison from the Nagas counteracted Duryodana's poison and Bima was revived. Bima easily defeated most of the Nagas, but a few were able to escape.
The Nagas that escaped returned with their king and some of his courtiers to where Bima was. One of the courtiers recognized Bima because he was friends with Kunti's father, Bima grandfather. The Naga king was impressed with Bima and decided to give him a gift. Bima was allowed to drink the king's elixir that bestowed on him the strength of a thousand elephants and invincibility in battle. After drinking the elixir Bima lay down and slept for a long time.
When Bima woke up he quickly returned to his mother and brothers who were very happy he was safe. He told them all of what Duryodana had done. They decided to keep it secret, but they also decided to be especially careful around Duryodana and to protect each other.
Bibliography.
The Five Brothers: The Story of the Mahabharata, by: Elizabeth Seeger, Chapter: The Sons of Pandu, Section: The Poisoning of Bima, Source
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