Thursday, August 4, 2011

Bhima The Mighty and Great Warrior of Mahabharata

As i have read in some blogs these days because of TV serials and movies. The great Pandavas are considered as cowards. Evil souls like Duryodhana and Karna are considered as great men. Bhima is shown as a fat, greedy and short tempered warrior.

But Bhima is not as such. Bhima is the second hero of Mahabharata after Arjuna. He is extremely strong and is not afraid of anyone. He defeated Karna many times during Mahabharata war and forced him to retreat chariot less. Karna once defeated Bhima by hiding in his chariot. Bhima was weaponless at that time. Bhima then challenged Karna to a wrestling duel. But Karna got afraid and declined the challenge and went away.

On 17th day of Mahabharata war  Karna insulted Yudhistira. Then Bhima vowed to kill Karna. Bhima fought with Karna and made him unconscious. He was about to cut of the tongue of Karna but Shalya stopped him and told him Arjuna has vowed to kill Karna so leave him. Thus Bhima spared Karna. In TV serials they did not show this scene. This is available in Mahabharata translation by Kisan Mohan Ganguli.

Comparing Bhima and Duryodhana. Bhima was much stronger than Duryodhana but Duryodhana has more skill in mace than Bhima. Bhima is the protector of remaining pandavas including Arjuna during burning of wax house.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Respected Vamsi, what you have posted is one side of the coin. Other than Arjuna everyone chariot was Broken in the war. So a Warrior becoming Chariotless is part of war at that time.
Thats why Karna on 17th day of war Recommended to carry a huge supply of Chariots before facing Arjuna. And thats why every Maharathi had huge chain of chariots as backup.

And to your next point
nobody would dare to say Arjuna ,Bhima cowards. Even Yudhistira was a Maharathi. Now who passes such remarks has to be ignored.

Coming to your next point when Karna retreated you are saying that he was a coward.
Its a part of strategy , A coward will never comeback to war but Karna came back again and again. Even the great Arjuna was made unconsious on several occassion but was he not a supreme warrior. Even Arjuna retreated from Karna on 16th day of war when he used Bhargavastra.That doesn't mean he was a coward it was a smart strategy.when one batsmen is attacking the captain obviously places defensive fields.

And only two occassion when two great warrior failed to retreat they were killed once Abhimanyu and second Karna.

And you said Karna was no matched to Bhima. Karna said to Salya on 17th day that other than two Krishnas nobody can stand before him when he is rage with the intention to kill.

That incident was after Bhima was restrain to cut Karnas tongue .After that defeat Karna massively defeated all the pandavas excluding Arjun and he injured Bhimsen so badly that Salya said to Karna ,now seeing Bhima in such terrible condition you have surely brought your doom in the form of Arjuna.

And please don't stick to only 14th day please gothrough 15th,16th and 17th day and you will find Karna defeated Bhima many times.
And Karna never used Bhargavastra,Shakti weapon,Brahmastara and even any highly potential weapons on any Pandavas other Arjuna.Becs his job was to stop Bhima not to killed him.

Anand Shankar said...

Bhima was the greatest all rounder of Mahabharata war. So far over all performence in war is concerned, he was next only to Arjuna. He was not only a great mace fighter and swordsman but also a top class archer. No one was equal to Bhima in physical might.


Bhima was superb in attacking the enamy ranks. He attacked the enamy racks with so much force and speed that not even Bhishma and Drona could check his advance in battle. Bhishma, Drona and Karna could not save Duryodhna's brothers from Bhima. At one occasion Bhima successfully checked Bhishma's advance by killing his charioteer. At another occasion he pierced Drona with 15 arrows and Drona fainted. Charoteer took away Drona from the battlefield after that. Bhima defeated Drona on 14th day as well. Drona could not stop him.


Karna was a great warrior but behind Arjuna and Bhima. Too much about 'bhrgavastra' we have heard. Karna's bhargavastra could not harm Arjuna on 17th day of battle. Arjuna successfully nutralized karna's bhargavastra and brahmastra. Arjuna defeated Karna twice in kurukshetra before their final encounter.


Bhima repeatedly defeated Karna on 14th day. He defeated Karna again on 17th day. Bhima was also the master of 'BRAHMASTRA' weapon. It is clearly written in Mahabharata that Bhima nutralized Ashvatthaman's brahmastra with his own brahmastra.


Karna stared attacking mildly but later he became fierce and attacked Bhima with powerful weapons with a desire to kill him. Karna recalled his promise to kunti when the battle ended and Bhima had no weapon left. Bhima also had many chance to kill Karna but he did not kill him remembering Arjuna's vov. Karna did not accept Bhima's challenge for wrestling on 14th day.

vamsi krishna said...

Hi Anand Shankar,

Well said. All what you said is correct.

Aiming Beyond Skies said...

Hear in brief, O son of Pandu! I regard the mighty car-warrior Karna as thy equal, or perhaps, thy superior! With the greatest care and resolution shouldst thou slay him in great battle. In energy he is equal to Agni. As regards speed, he is equal to the impetuosity of the wind. In wrath, he resembles the Destroyer himself. Endued with might, he resembles a lion in the formation of his body. He is eight ratnis in stature. His arms are large. His chest is broad. He is invincible. He is sensitive. He is a hero. He is, again, the foremost of heroes. He is exceedingly handsome. Possessed of every accomplishment of a warrior, he is a dispeller of the fears of friends. Engaged in the good of Dhritarashtra's son, he always hates the sons of Pandu. No one, not even the gods with Vasava at their head, can slay the son of Radha, save thee, as I think. Slay, therefore, the Suta's son today. No one possessed of flesh and blood, not even the gods fighting with great care, not all the warriors (of the three worlds) fighting together can vanquish that car-warrior.

Anonymous said...

hi vamshi,anand ...

well said