Gatothgaja - Chapter 6

Yudhishtara was the first to sense that they were being followed as he turned sharply.

His brothers turned with him and they all saw the rakshasi woman following them.

Not knowing what to do they all stared at each other. Because though they all were good warriors, none of them had ever attacked a woman before.

But the problem was that they knew that Hidimbi was a rakshasi and what she was capable of.

Kunti came forward angrily, which was when Hidimbi smiled at them and bowed at Kunti.

“Please lady, listen to me.” Hidimbi started in a gentle voice.

Kunti looked slightly stunned as Hidimbi gave another beautiful glance at Bheema. “I am Hidimbi and I am a rakshasi. Your son here has killed my brother. Me and my brother used to attack and kill the travelers who used to travel in this place. But after seeing your son, I….” Hidimbi fumbled as she blushed a deep red. She was still in her human form and Kunti looked slightly amused as she saw Hidimbi.

At that minute, Kunti knew that Hidimbi was not following them in spite.

True enough.

Hidimbi locked her eyes with Bheema and nodded slowly. “I am in love with your second son. Please let me marry me.”

Kunti found that request quite reasonable.

And even more was the fact that even Bheema seemed to love the woman a lot.

And so it was Bheema, the second Pandava who had his marriage conducted first among the five Pandavas.

Hidimbi being a rakshasi, she was well-versed in magic. She promised to bring back Bheema, as and when, the Pandavas needed.

Yudhishtara embraced his newly wed brother and Hidimbi looked proud and she and her husband vanished from the place there.

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In due course, Hidimbi and Bheema had a son – the child was bald. And the child was part rakshasa and from his mother’s side, the child was capable of doing any kind of magic.

The child became the favourite of all the Pandavas and because his head was bald like a water pot the child was named as ‘Gatothgaja’ which meant the ‘pot headed.

The little Gatothgaja was the first child of the next generation for the Pandavas. All the five brothers adored the little rakshasa as he was filled with pranks and made the living in the forests far too easy. He used his magic to keep them entertained and they all loved it

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But after the birth of Gatothgaja, Hidimbi knew that Bheema and the other Pandavas had to go their way.

So she bid farewell to her husband.

The little Gatothgaja promised his parents that he would be appear before them anytime that he needed and he also vanished from there and went with his mother.