Bhima Goes to Fetch Sougandhika Lotuses

The portents came first. The ground trembled. The air thickened. In every direction, signs of a great battle began to gather — omens that Yudhishthira, learned in the language of such things, read immediately. "Who is attempting to overcome us?" he asked. "O Pandavas! You are always powerful in battle. Be fortunate and prepared. From what I can see, the time for displaying our valour has come." He looked around. Bhima was not there. Yudhishthira turned to Draupadi and the twins, Nakula and Sahadeva, who were close by. "O Panchali! Did Bhima desire to perform some deed? Or has the brave one, who is addicted to valour, already performed some courageous deed? Portents can suddenly be seen in all the directions. They indicate a great battle and foretell great dangers." Draupadi, his sweet-smiling and beloved queen, replied. "O king! A sougandhika was brought here by the wind today. I showed it to Bhimasena and lovingly told the brave one to bring many more back to me, if he should see them, and return quickly. O king! To bring me pleasure, the mighty-armed Pandava must have gone to the north-eastern direction." Yudhishthira did not hesitate. He told the twins: "In that case, let us immediately go where Vrikodara has gone. Let the rakshasas bear the brahmanas who are exhausted and tired, as the case may be. O Ghatotkacha! You are the equal of the immortals. You carry Krishna. It is my certain view that Bhima has gone a long distance away. He has been away for a long time and he is like the wind in his speed. In swiftly leaping over the ground, he is like Vinata's son. He will leap up into the sky and descend, as he pleases. O those who roam in the night! With the aid of your powers, we will follow him, before he causes any offence to the siddhas and those who are learned in the brahman." The rakshasas agreed. Led by Ghatotkacha, who knew the region around Kubera's pond, they gathered the Pandavas and the brahmanas — including Lomasha — and set out after Bhima.