Bhima: Son of Vayu
Second Pandava, son of Vayu. The appetite and the vows: Duhshasana’s blood, Duryodhana’s thigh.
Also called Bhimasena · Vrikodara · Ballava
Who Bhima is
Bhima is the second Pandava, Kunti’s son by Vayu, the appetite in the house. Half the night’s alms are his. He kills rakshasas because someone has to, and he carries two vows out of the sabha: Duhshasana’s blood and Duryodhana’s thigh.
He marries Hidimbi; Ghatotkacha is their son, spent later against Karna’s Shakti. Balarama taught him the mace and will not watch him use it on the last day.
Names and spellings
Canonical name in this graph: Bhima. Common Mahabharat spellings and titles stay in the aliases rather than being repeated in every heading.
Spouses
Children
In the recitation
- Hanuman — brothers by Vayu; the flag on the chariot
- Balarama — mace-teacher of the other pupil
- Hidimba — Bhima kills him; then marries his sister
- Duryodhana — the mace and the thigh
- Duhshasana — the vow of the blood
- Kichaka — kills him in Virata’s palace
- Jarasandha — split along the old seam
Narrative role
Adi Parva Duryodhana poisons him and puts him in the river. The nagas’ bites work on the poison. He comes home heavier. Later he kills Hidimba and Baka, and marries Hidimbi.
Sabha Parva He watches Draupadi dragged and does not break the hall yet. The vows are the shape of the waiting.
Day 18 He breaks the thigh. The war-books have argued ever since whether that blow was fair. Balarama calls it crooked. Krishna does not stop it.
How Bhima is related
How is Bhima related to Duryodhana? Poison, then the mace. The thigh is Draupadi’s vow carried in Bhima’s hands. Duryodhana
How is Bhima related to Ghatotkacha? Son by Hidimbi. Krishna has Karna spend the unfailing dart on him at night so Arjuna will still be alive at dawn. Ghatotkacha
How is Bhima related to Draupadi? Husband. He is the one who speaks the vows the sabha will take years to collect. Draupadi
How is Bhima related to Balarama? Mace-teacher of both pupils. He refuses to watch the last fight because he cannot call it fair. Balarama
Source notes
Mahabharata text (Adi, Sabha, Shalya), Ganguli. Last reviewed 12 September 2026.
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