Hidimba and Bhima travel, love, and beget Ghatotkacha

Hidimba kept her oath. Assuming the most beautiful of forms, adorned in every kind of ornament and sometimes breaking out in sweet music, she pleasured with the Pandava. They were not in one place. She carried him to beautiful mountain peaks cared for by the gods and always frequented by animals and birds; to forests and mountain passes with flowering trees and creepers; to ponds adorned with lotuses and water lilies; to islands on rivers where the gravel was like lapis lazuli and to mountain streams where the woods and the water were pure. They were on the shores of the ocean with jewels and gold; in beautiful cities and in forests with large shala trees; in forests sacred to the gods and the peaks of mountains; in the dwelling places of the guhyakas (celestial treasure-keepers) and the hermitages of ascetics; and along the waters of Lake Manasa, abounding in flowers and fruit in all seasons. In every such place, the one who was as swift as the mind pleasured with Bhima. From Bhimasena, the rakshasi then gave birth to an immensely powerful son. He had a fearful appearance, with terrible eyes, a large mouth and ears like spikes. His form was distorted. His lips were brown as copper and his teeth were sharp, with great strength in them. He had mighty arms, possessed great energy and was born extremely valorous, a great archer. He had great speed, with gigantic size and was a conqueror of enemies, greatly skilled in the powers of delusion. Though born from a man, with great speed and great strength, he had nothing human in him. He surpassed all pishachas (flesh-eating demons) and other such creatures, not to speak of humans. Rakshasa women give birth on the day they conceive. They are capable of assuming any form they want. Although a child, by human standards he seemed to be a fully grown youth the moment he was born. He became a powerful and supreme hero, skilled in the use of all the weapons that are known. The child who had grown and become a supreme archer saluted his father and mother by touching their feet. They gave him a name. His mother said, “He is shiny like a pot,” and his name became Ghatotkacha. Ghatotkacha was devoted to the Pandavas and they always loved him. He became one of them. Knowing that the prescribed time of her stay with them was over, Hidimba made another agreement with them and went where she wanted. Ghatotkacha, the best of rakshasas, told his father that he would come whenever he was required and left for the north. The text notes he had been created by the great-souled Maghavan (Indra) as a powerful antagonist against the great-souled maharatha (great chariot-warrior) Karna.

Hidimba and Bhima travel, love, and beget Ghatotkacha

The Union of Bhima and Hidimba