Mahabharata – 71,

By

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                            AadivamsavataranaParva

Vaisampayana now said that  ------ On the death of their father the Pandavas came home at Hastinapur.Within a very short period they became skilled in archery .The Kurus seeing the Pandavas gifted with physical strength & power of mind & popularity with the people became jealous of them.Then the croocked minded Duryodhana, Karna & Sakuni plotted to disturb the Pandavas in various ways.Initially the wicked Duryodhana gave poisoned food to Bhima.Bhima digested the poison but he fell asleep Duryodhana tied Bhima with a rope.Then the sleeping Bhima was carried to the banks of the Ganges.Bhima was dropped in the Ganges secretly. Being carried away by the current of the Ganges Bhima suddenly awoke from stupor. He then tore the ropes that had bound him.He went back home.Later while Bhima was fast asleep snakes with virulent poison bit Bhima into  every limb of his body. But the slayer of the foes did not die yet.The high minded Vidura saw the mal treatment of Pandavas in the hand of Kauravas.Vidura sought to rescue the Pandavas in such a dire situation.