Bhima and the Grace of Vasuki (Mahabharata Series 27)

Bhima and the Grace of Vasuki

According to Duryodhana’s wicked design, the poisoned laddus had already been secretly prepared and kept ready. Bhima and Duryodhana together walked toward the place where these sweets were arranged. With great affection, Bhima offered the delicious dishes from his plate to Duryodhana. In return, Duryodhana cunningly fed Bhima the poison-laced sweets.

Simple-hearted Bhima, unaware of any deceit, joyfully consumed the deadly laddus. Certain that his plan had succeeded, Duryodhana left the place with wicked satisfaction in his heart.

After the meal, all the princes began to enjoy water sports. They leapt from the riverbank into the flowing waters, swam like fish, and played various games. Some tried floating without moving their limbs, while others hesitated to go deeper and stayed close to the shore. A few mischievous boys pulled such timid ones into deeper waters, laughing at their fear.

Whenever Bhima plunged into the river, the waters surged violently, splashing up to the banks. The force of his dive made it seem as though the river itself trembled. Many princes avoided going anywhere near Bhima while he played. Duryodhana alone stayed close, carefully observing Bhima’s movements with intense interest.

After a long while, the princes grew tired and returned to the pavilion known as Udaka Kridana to rest.

Soon, the effect of the poison began to manifest in Bhima. As he emerged from the water, he was unable to reach the pavilion and collapsed on the riverbank itself. With every passing moment, the poison spread rapidly through his body. Bhima lost consciousness.

Duryodhana, who had been eagerly watching the outcome of his crime, saw Bhima lying senseless and believed that his plan had fully succeeded. He thought to himself:

“If I leave him here, Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, and Vidura may suspect me. It is better that there be no trace of him at all.”

Acting upon this thought, Duryodhana tightly bound Bhima with forest creepers, carried him with great effort, and threw him into the river. Having done so, he returned to the palace without fear.

The heavy body of Bhima sank deeper and deeper into the waters and finally reached the realm of the Nagas. Seeing this massive human body fall among them, the great serpents became enraged and bit him all over.

As described in the Mahabharata:

“The poison already present in Bhima’s body, the dreadful Kalakuta,

was destroyed by the venom of the serpents.

Thus, the stationary poison was neutralized by the mobile poison.”

The animal venom of the serpents neutralized the poison that had been administered through artificial means.

Once the Kalakuta poison was destroyed, Bhima regained consciousness. With a mighty heave of his body, he snapped the bonds that held him. In a moment, he seized the serpents around him and hurled them to the ground. Many serpents died instantly, while the survivors fled in terror to their king, Vasuki, and reported everything.

On hearing this, King Vasuki, accompanied by his retinue, came to the spot where Bhima stood. Among Vasuki’s companions was Aryaka, a great serpent king. The moment Aryaka saw Bhima, he embraced him affectionately. Aryaka was the great-grandfather of Kunti, Bhima’s mother, and he was filled with immense joy on seeing his descendant.

Vasuki too honored Bhima with great affection. After hearing the entire account of what had transpired, Vasuki wished to reward Bhima generously with abundant gold and riches as a token of his gratitude and love.

Thus, by divine destiny, the very poison meant to destroy Bhima became the cause of his survival—and the source of divine grace from the king of serpents.