SECTION 157
(Hidimba-vadha Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Bhima, beholding Hidimba following them,
addressed her, saying, 'Rakshasas revenge themselves on their enemies by
adopting deceptions that are incapable of being penetrated. Therefore, O Hidimbi,
go thou the way on which thy brother hath gone.' Then Yudhishthira beholding
Bhima in rage, said, 'O Bhima, however enraged, do not slay a woman. The
observance of virtue is a higher duty than the protection of life. Hidimba, who
had come with the object of slaying us, thou hast already slain. This woman is
the sister of that Rakshasa, what can she do to us even if she were angry?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Hidimbi reverentially saluting
Kunti and her son Yudhishthira also, said, with joined palms, 'O revered lady,
thou knowest the pangs that women are made to feel at the hands of the deity of
love. Blessed dame, these pangs, of which Bhimasena hath been the cause, are
torturing me. I had hitherto borne these 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 relations and the usage of my
race, I have, O blessed lady, chosen this son of thine, this tiger among men,
as my husband. I tell thee truly, that if I am cast off by that hero or by thee
either, I will no longer bear this life of mine. Therefore, it behoveth thee to
show me mercy, thinking me either as very silly or thy obedient slave. Unite me
with this thy son, my husband. Endued as he is with the form of a celestial,
let me go taking him with me wherever I like. Trust me, I will again bring him back
unto you all. When you think of me I will come to you immediately and convey
you whithersoever ye may command. I will rescue you from all dangers and carry
you across inaccessible and uneven regions. I will carry you on my back
whenever ye desire to proceed with swiftness. O, be gracious unto me and make
Bhima accept me. It hath been said that in a season of distress one should
protect one's 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 Hidimba, Yudhishthira said. 'It is
even so, O Hidimbi, as thou sayest. There is no doubt of it. But, 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
that art endued with the speed of the mind! But thou must bring back Bhimasena
hither every day at nightfall.'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Then Bhima, expressing his assent
to all that Yudhishthira said, addressed Hidimbi, saying, 'Listen to me, O
Rakshasa woman! Truly do I make this engagement with thee that I will stay with
thee, until thou obtainest a son.' Then Hidimbi, saying, 'So be it,' took Bhima
upon her body and sped through the sides. On mountain peaks of picturesque
scenery and regions sacred to the gods, abounding 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.
Hidimbi sported with the Pandava and studied to make him happy. So also, in
inaccessible regions of forests, and on mountain-breasts over grown 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 Himalayan 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 Guhyakas and ascetics, on the
banks of Manasarovara abounding with fruits and flowers of every season Hidimbi,
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
Pisachas and kindred tribes as well as all Rakshasas. And, O monarch, though a
little child, he grew up a youth the very hour he was born. The mighty hero
soon acquired high proficiency in the use of all weapons. The Rakshasa women
bring forth the very day they conceive, and capable of assuming any forms at
will, they always change their forms. And the bald-headed child, that mighty
bowman, soon after his birth, bowing down to his mother, touched her feet and
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 who was exceedingly devoted to
the Pandavas, became a great favourite with them, indeed almost one of them.
"Then Hidimbi, 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 father that he would come when wanted on
business, saluted them and went away northward. Indeed, it was the illustrious
Indra who created (by lending a portion of himself) the mighty car-warrior
Ghatotkacha as a fit antagonist of Karna of unrivalled energy, in consequence
of the dart he had given unto Karna (and which was sure to kill the person
against whom it would be hurled).'"
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