The Poisoning of Bheema

Sibling jealousy is not new to our age. It has been there since time immemorial. Right from the very beginning of time, even the gods have shown signs of immense jealousy towards the demons and and other gods.

More than five thousand one hundred years ago, the Kaurava, the jealous princes of Kuru clan, lived with a bitterness against the Pandava, their five pious cousins.

The Pandavas being the sons of Pandu, the rightful king, were thus the rightful heirs to the throne. Pandu accidentally killed a couple of hermits (ouch) disguised as deer while mating  (double ouch) and incurred a curse that he'll die likewise. Thus his wife Kunti, by virtue of sage Vyasa's foresight, blessing and boon, invoked five gods to bestow upon her and Maduri, his other wife, five children possessing their characteristics.

Thus were born the eldest Yudhishira (son of Yama Dharmaraj, god of death, time and righteousness), Bheema (son of Vayu, wind), Arjuna (son of Indra, king of all gods) and, Nakula and Sahadeva (sons of the Ashwini Twins, gods of health).

The Kaurava were the sons of the blind king Dhritharashta, who was a caretaker during Pandu's self-imposed exile, and the blind-folded queen Gandhari, who was so jealous when Kunti had children before her. (What an idiot! No wonder the Kaurava were later so messed up.) This resulted in Gandhari's pregnancy being divided into a hundred and one children.

Dhuryodhana, the eldest Kaurava, brayed like a donkey when he was born. Thunder sounded and lightning flashed, and wolves howled. Vidhura, Dhritarahtra's brother and son of a maid servant, warned the king that these were ill omens and to kill the child ASAP!!! But the blind king was too blind to listen. (I suppose he was both blind and deaf to the truth.)

One day, Dhuryodhana poisoned a bowl of pudding and offered it to Bheema. The latter, being young innocent, naive and ever ready to eat, accepted it without suspicion.  The poison rendered Bheema unconscious and Dhuryodhana rolled him into the nearest river.

Deep down in the river, poisonous snakes bit Bheema and sucked out all the venom from his body. The they escorted him to their palace.

"Who are you?" Asked the king.

"Bheema, son of Kunti!" Said Bheema, proudly.

"Is that so?" Said the King and gave Bheema another drink. "That makes you my nephew."

This drink gave Bheema, the unmatched in strength, even more strength - the strength of  a thousand elephants. When Bheema returned to his brothers, he told them about what had happened.

"Dhuryodhana is your brother. Don't speak ill of him." Yudhishtira, the eldest Pandava said.

"Alright then, the poison was wonderful." Bheema said, sarcastically. "May I have some more?"