Among all the mighty princes of the Kuru race, it was Vrikodara—Bhima—alone who could subdue a hundred and one of his cousins, and he did so without much difficulty. With his immense strength, Bhima would seize them by their hair, striking and dragging them across the ground as they cried out, their knees and heads scraped and bruised. Sometimes, in their games, he would play with ten boys at once: holding them tightly in his arms, he would plunge into the water, remaining submerged with them, and then release them as if they were lifeless, so overwhelmed were they by his power. When some of the princes climbed trees in search of fruit, Bhima would strike the trees with a mighty blow, making them tremble violently. The force of his strikes sent the trees whirling and caused the fruits to rain down, while the princes, unable to hold on, slipped from the branches and fell. Some of his brothers landed with broken heads and shoulders, others with injured hips and faces, all laid low by Bhimasena’s astonishing strength. In every contest—wrestling, running, or any other sport—the princes could never surpass Vrikodara, no matter how hard they tried. Yet, Bhima’s roughness in competing with the sons of Dhritarashtra was not out of malice, but rather the unthinking exuberance of a child. But Duryodhana, the powerful son of Dhritarashtra, was well aware of Bhimasena’s famed strength. A dark resolve began to take root in his heart. Observing Bhima’s conduct, and blinded by his own greed for power, Duryodhana’s mind filled with wicked thoughts. “This Vrikodara, son of Kunti, is the strongest among us,” he thought. “Let us subdue him by deceit, for he alone, vigorous and courageous, stands against us all.” Devising a plan, Duryodhana said, “While he sleeps, let us cast him into the Ganga in the palace garden. Then we shall seize Yudhishthira, the eldest and best, and by binding him, I will rule the earth.” Thus, Duryodhana resolved upon this evil, always keeping a watchful eye on Bhima. To set his scheme in motion, Duryodhana had splendid pavilions built for water sports—adorned with tall banners, filled with every pleasure, and lavishly decorated with cloth and wool. He arranged a festival by the water’s edge, gathering many types of houses and amusements. At the appointed time, all the princes, dressed in fresh garments and adorned with ornaments, enjoyed delicious food and delightful company. When evening fell and their play was done, the foremost of the Kurus, weary from their enjoyment, retired to the pleasure houses to rest. Bhima, having exerted himself more than the others, carried many of the princes who had come for the water games. Seeking rest, he lay down right there on the cool riverbank, overcome by fatigue and soon fast asleep. He lay motionless, as if lifeless, on the earth. Seeing his chance, Duryodhana quietly bound Bhima with strong creepers while he slept. Then, with stealth, he cast Bhima into the waters of the Ganga. But when Bhima awoke, he broke free from his bonds with ease and rose from the water, not knowing who had done this to him. Still weary, he lay down again on the bank and slept. When half the night had passed and the others awoke, Duryodhana, seeing Bhima unharmed, was filled with despair. Yet Duryodhana did not relent. While Bhima slept again, Duryodhana brought furious snakes with sharp fangs and deadly venom and set them upon him, so that they bit him at all his joints. But the snakes’ fangs could not pierce Bhima’s firm and broad frame, no matter how they tried, even striking at his vital parts. Awakening, Bhimasena struck down all the snakes and killed their beloved leader with his bare hands. Still burning with anger and intent on killing Bhima, Duryodhana, after consulting with Karna and following the advice of Shakuni, son of Subala, devised yet another scheme. At Bhima’s meal, he mixed a deadly poison—Kālakūṭa, sharp and terrifying—into his food. Yet, even after consuming this most potent poison, Bhima showed no ill effects; his powerful body digested the poison as if it were nothing. Not deterred, Duryodhana, with Shakuni as his ally, continued to plot. He could find no rest, day or night, so consumed was he with thoughts of destroying Bhima. Thus, Duryodhana, Karna, and Shakuni sought by every possible means to harm the Pandavas. A merchant’s son, wishing for the Pandavas’ welfare, informed them of these plots. Yet the Pandavas, guided by Vidura’s wise counsel, kept their knowledge secret and remained steadfast. Still, Duryodhana and his companions did not give up. Once more, they gathered to deliberate, determined and resolute in their malice. “Bhimasena always competes with us,” they said. “Let us cast him, while he sleeps in the garden, into the water upon a spear.” Accordingly, they arranged another gathering for water sports at a chosen spot by the garden’s edge. There, skilled cooks prepared every kind of food and drink, offering delights to eat, enjoy, and savor. When all was ready, the attendants informed Duryodhana, who, with evil in his heart, addressed the Pandavas who had assembled there. Thus, through all these trials and dangers, Bhima’s strength and the steadfastness of the Pandavas shone ever brighter, even as the wicked schemes of Duryodhana and his allies grew ever darker.