91 Facts About Bhima

Bhima's life was filled with extraordinary episodes that showcased his unmatched strength and bravery.

From childhood, where he was rescued by the Nagas after being poisoned, to his victories over formidable foes like Bakasura, Hidimba, and Jarasandha, Bhima's adventures are integral to the Mahabharata's storyline.

Bhima vowed to drink Dushasana's blood and smash Duryodhana's thigh, and years later, he fulfilled these vows during the Kurukshetra War.

Bhima accompanied Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas on their final journey to the Himalayas, where he eventually succumbed to his flaw of gluttony.

Bhima is a significant character in the Mahabharata, one of the Sanskrit epics from the Indian subcontinent.

Bhima appears in few of the later written Puranic scriptures, most prominent being the Krishna-related Bhagavata Purana.

Bhima was the second of the five Pandava brothers, the adoptive sons of retired Kuru king Pandu, and was born to Kunti with divine intervention due to Pandu's inability to conceive.

In one such plot, Bhima was given poisoned food and thrown into the Ganges River while unconscious.

Bhima consumed eight pots of this elixir, thereby acquiring the strength of a thousand elephants.

Bhima spent eight days in the Naga realm to fully assimilate this power.

Bhima specialised in the use of the mace and became an unmatched mace fighter.

Bhima's training included proficiency in various other weapons, establishing him as a versatile warrior.

However, upon encountering Bhima, Hidimbi was struck by his physical appearance and power, and she proposed marriage to him.

Bhima engaged in combat with Hidimba and, after a fierce battle, killed him.

Bhima, being one of her husbands, was known for his deep affection and protective nature toward Draupadi throughout their lives.

Bhima deemed Bhima to be the most ideal person to wage wars in that region.

Bhima's conquest continued as he defeated Rochamana, the king of Aswamedha, subjugating the entire eastern region.

Bhima stayed for thirty nights before continuing his campaign, subjugating King Srenimat of Kumara and Vrihadvala, the king of Kosala, followed by the conquest of Ayodhya, where he defeated King Dirghayaghna.

Bhima's victories extended to Northern Kosalas, Gopalakaksha, and the Mallas.

Bhima's next set of conquests involved the kingdom of Kasi, where he vanquished King Suvahu, followed by the defeat of King Kratha of Suparsa.

Bhima continued to subdue regions like Matsya, Maladas, and Pasubhumi, before moving on to conquer Madahara, Mahidara, and the Somadheyas.

Jarasandha selected Bhima, recognizing him as a worthy adversary in combat.

Bhima, interpreting this gesture, followed suit by bisecting Jarasandha's body and scattering the halves apart, preventing them from reuniting.

Bhima further vanquished powerful rulers such as Vasudeva of Pundra, Mahaujah of Kausika-kachchha, and the king of Vanga.

Bhima notably supported Krishna in the ensuing altercation with Shishupala, a vocal critic of Krishna and an antagonist to the Pandavas.

Bhima was the only one from the Pandavas' side to protest against the wrongdoing, with Vidura and Vikarna raising objections from the Kauravas' side.

Bhima vowed to kill Duryodhana by breaking his thigh, a reference to Duryodhana's insulting gesture during the dice game, when he exposed his thigh and commanded Draupadi to sit on his lap.

Bhima swore to avenge Draupadi's humiliation by drinking the blood of Dushasana, who had forcibly dragged her by her hair and attempted to disrobe her in the Kauravas' assembly.

Bhima engaged in a fierce battle with Kirmira and ultimately killed him, thereby eliminating the threat he posed.

Bhima then invoked his son Ghatotkacha, who promptly arrived and assisted the Pandavas.

Hanuman blessed Bhima and provided him guidance to the Saugandhika forest.

Bhima overpowered Jayadratha's forces, captured him, and expressed a desire to kill him for his transgression.

Bhima, while traversing the forest, was captured by this python.

Duryodhana was captured by the Gandharvas, and upon hearing this, Bhima expressed amusement at his plight.

Bhima's objective was to seize the weapons of the Pandavas.

Bhima, who was gone hunting during the abduction, was deeply upset when he came to know of Jatasura's evil act on his return.

Bhima took on the role of Vallabha, a cook, and wrestler in King Virata's palace.

Much to the delight of King Virata and his subjects, Bhima challenged Jimuta and knocked him out in no time.

Bhima devised a plan to eliminate Kichaka without revealing their true identities.

Bhima arranged for Draupadi to lure Kichaka into a secluded area, where Bhima, disguised, awaited him.

Bhima played a significant role in the events leading up to the war and was a key combatant throughout the eighteen days of conflict, which are documented in four books of the Mahabharata-Bhisma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva and Shalya Parva.

Bhima suggested that Shikhandi, who had the ability to challenge Bhishma due to Bhishma's oath not to fight against a woman or someone perceived as a woman, should lead the Pandava forces.

Bhima's chariot was driven by his charioteer, Vishoka, and bore a flag with a gigantic lion in silver, its eyes made of lapis lazuli.

Bhima's chariot was yoked to horses described as being as black as bears or black antelopes.

Bhima wielded a celestial bow named Vayavya, gifted to him by his divine father, Vayu, and possessed the massive conch named Paundra.

When Duryodhana sent Uluka with a message to the Pandavas, Bhima responded with an insulting reply, rejecting any form of submission or negotiation.

Bhima then engaged in combat with the forces of the Kalingas.

Later in the war, Bhima faced Duryodhana in combat.

Bhima engaged Bhishma, the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army, in combat on multiple occasions.

Bhima then targeted the Kaurava brothers in a specific engagement, where he killed eight sons of Dhritarashtra.

Bhima continued to engage Duryodhana, defeating him again in another encounter.

Later, in his engagement with Bhishma, Bhima killed Bhishma's charioteer.

Bhima continued his assault on the Kaurava brothers, killing nine more sons of Dhritarashtra.

Bhima's continued offensive efforts led to the killing of ten Maharathis of the Kaurava army in a single battle.

Bhima fought with Vivinsati in a combat engagement.

Bhima then entered into a club fight with Shalya, defeating him.

Bhima's confrontation with Bhagadatta's elephant was a notable encounter in which he was defeated and forced to retreat temporarily.

Bhima then fought against Vivinsati, Chitrasena, and Vikarna.

Bhima confronted Drona again and was able to defeat him.

Bhima engaged Karna in battle and succeeded in defeating him.

In subsequent engagements, Bhima killed Durjaya and Durmukha.

Bhima continued his campaign against the Kaurava brothers, killing Durmarshana, Dussaha, Durmada, Durdhara, and Jaya.

Bhima fought Karna repeatedly, destroying many of his bows during their encounters.

Subsequently, Bhima killed the prince of Kalinga by thrashing and kicking him.

Bhima continued his offensive against key warriors, pushing and beating Jayarata, Dhruva, Durmada, and Dushkarna to death.

Bhima rendered the great hero Somadatta unconscious with his club.

Bhima then killed the elephant named Ashvatthama as part of a strategic deception to spread the false news that Drona's son, Ashvatthama, had been killed.

Bhima then fought against the Narayanastra, a celestial weapon deployed by Ashvatthama.

Bhima was the only warrior who refused to submit to the invincible Narayanastra weapon and had to dragged to his safety by Arjuna and Krishna.

Bhima then fought Ashvatthama, but was struck down unconscious in this encounter.

Bhima killed Bhanusena, the son of Karna, in a subsequent duel.

Bhima then killed Vivitsu, Vikata, Sama, Kratha, Nanda, and Upananda in another engagement.

Bhima engaged Duryodhana in another fierce encounter.

Bhima continued his assault on the Kaurava forces, killing 25,000 infantrymen single-handedly in one engagement.

Bhima targeted the sons of Dhritarashtra, killing eleven more of them: Durmarshana, Shrutanta, Jaitra, Bhuribala, Ravi, Jayatsena, Sujata, Durvisha, Durvimocana, Duspradharsha, and Shrutavarma.

Understanding that sign, Bhima threw his mace towards Duryodhana's thigh while the latter was in mid-air during a jump.

Bhima pursued Ashvatthama, who had killed Draupadi's sons in a night raid on the Pandava camp.

Later, Bhima apologised to Gandhari, the mother of the Kauravas, and Dhritarashtra, who attempted to kill him by crushing him in a bear hug.

When Yudhishthira expressed a desire to renounce the world and take up the life of a sannyasin, Bhima urged Yudhishthira to remain on the throne.

Bhima initially opposed Dhritarashtra's request for funds to perform riyuals for those who had died in the war, but agreed after persuasions from Dhritarashta and Yudhishthira.

Bhima inquired about the cause of these deaths, and Yudhishthira provided him with appropriate explanations.

When Bhima himself was on the verge of death, he questioned the reason, and Yudhishthira attributed it to Bhima's gluttony.

Bhima is seen among the Maruts and sitting next to his father Vayu, when Yudhisthira ascended to Svarga.

Bhima, known as Werkudara in Indonesian and Javanese culture, is a prominent figure in Indonesia's wayang traditions, particularly within Javanese and Balinese cultures.

In Indonesia, Bhima is highly skilled in the use of various weapons, including the mace and other divine armaments like the Pancanaka and Rujakpala.

Bhima is endowed with supernatural powers, including Aji Bandungbandawasa and Aji Ketuglindhu.

Bhima is depicted as the son of the wind god, Batara Bayu, and is known for his exceptional strength and ability to control the wind.

Bhima's image is revered in Indonesia through various statues, such as those in Bali and at the National Museum of Indonesia.

One of the most well-known stories in wayang featuring Bhima is his encounter with Dewaruci, a powerful spiritual episode that symbolizes Bhima's quest for inner knowledge.

Bhima's weapon of choice, the mace, is a symbol of both his physical power and his ability to uphold justice.

The wayang version of Bhima is deeply ingrained in Indonesian culture, serving as a moral guide and a heroic figure whose stories resonate with audiences across generations.