Hidimbi Falls in Love and Proposes Marriage to Bhima
Sent to kill the sleeping Pandavas, the rakshasi Hidimbi sees the awake and mighty Bhimasena and is overcome with desire. Disobeying her brother, she assumes a beautiful human form and proposes marriage to Bhima, offering to save his family from the man-eating rakshasa. Bhima refuses, defiantly challenging her to send her brother to fight instead.
The rakshasi Hidimbi arrived with her brother’s murderous command. But when she saw Bhimasena — awake, with shoulders like a shala tree, unrivalled in beauty — she was filled with desire. She thought, “This dark, mighty-armed, lion-shouldered, greatly radiant, conch-necked and lotus-eyed man is the right husband for me.”
Her calculation was immediate and clear. “I will not obey my brother’s cruel orders. A wife’s love is stronger than affection for a brother. If he is killed, my brother’s pleasure and mine will be satisfied for a short while. But if I do not kill him, my gratification will be eternal.”
She could assume any form at will. She adopted a beautiful human form and slowly approached the mighty-armed Bhimasena, moving like a shy creeper adorned in divine ornaments. With a smile, she spoke to him.
“O bull among men! Where have you come from and who are you? Who are these god-like men who are asleep here? O unblemished one! Who is this tall, dark and delicate lady, who is asleep trustfully in this forest as if it was her own home?” She warned him of the danger. “Do you not know that this deep forest is inhabited by rakshasas? Here dwells the evil-minded rakshasa named Hidimba. O god-like man! I have been sent here by my brother, that evil rakshasa, with the intention of eating your flesh.”
Then she revealed her own intention. “But, on seeing you, like one who has emerged from the wombs of the gods, I honestly tell you that I desire no one but you as my husband. O learned one who knows the dharma! Please do that which is proper for me. My mind and body are overcome by desire. I wish to make you mine. Make me yours.”
She offered a bargain: her protection for his companionship. “O mighty-armed one! I will save you from the rakshasa who eats human flesh. O unblemished one! Become my husband and we will live in the safety of the mountains. I can travel in the sky and can go where I want. With me, you will find incomparable pleasure in those places.”
Bhimasena’s reply was not one of fear, but of duty and defiance. “O rakshasi! For the sake of what power can a man leave his mother, elder brother and those who are younger than him? What man like me would gratify his desire while leaving his sleeping mother and brothers as food for a rakshasa?”
Hidimbi tried to adjust her offer. “I will do that which pleases you. Wake them all up. I will save all of you from the desire of that man-eating rakshasa.”
Bhima refused again, his confidence absolute. “O rakshasi! I will not awaken my mother and brothers, who are sleeping blissfully in this forest, out of fear for your evil-minded brother. O fearful one! There is no rakshasa who can withstand my valour. O one with beautiful eyes! Nor can any man, gandharva or yaksha. O slender lady! Go or stay, as you please. Or send your man-eating brother to me.”