Quick Answer
Duryodhan tried to poison Bheem because he envied his extraordinary physical strength and feared that the Pandavas would become more powerful than him. Driven by jealousy and ambition, he plotted to kill Bheem during a gathering near the Ganga. However, Bheem survived and eventually returned stronger than before.
The Story
The rivalry between the Kauravas and the Pandavas began when they were still young princes of Hastinapur. Among them, Bheem was known for his immense strength. He often defeated the Kauravas in wrestling and physical games, which humiliated Duryodhan and deepened his jealousy.
Duryodhan feared that Bheem's strength, combined with Yudhishthir's claim to the throne and Arjun's exceptional archery, would threaten his own ambitions. Instead of accepting the Pandavas as rivals within the family, he decided to eliminate Bheem.
Duryodhan arranged a pleasure camp near the Ganga, where the princes could eat, play and enjoy themselves. During the gathering, he secretly mixed poison into Bheem's food.
After Bheem ate the poisoned food, he became weak and fell unconscious. Duryodhan then had him bound and thrown into the Ganga. He believed the river would carry away the evidence of his crime and that his strongest rival was finally dead.
But Bheem survived. The current carried him into the realm of the Nagas, the serpent beings described in the epic. There, the Nagas bit him. Their venom neutralised the poison already in his body.
When the Nagas took Bheem to their king, Vasuki, he met Aryak, one of the Nagas. Aryak recognised Bheem as his own descendant and embraced him. Vasuki then asked Aryak how they could reward Bheem. At Aryak’s suggestion, Vasuki allowed Bheem to drink from special vessels containing a strength-giving nectar. He drank several portions and gained extraordinary strength.
Afterwards, Bheem returned to his family. The Pandavas were relieved to see him alive, while Duryodhan's plan had failed. The episode became an early sign of how far the rivalry between the cousins could go, foreshadowing the greater conflict that would eventually engulf the Kuru dynasty.
Did You Know?
- Bheem drank eight vessels: each vessel contained the strength of a thousand elephants. Bheem drank all eight, gaining extraordinary strength.
- A family connection saved him: The Naga Aryak recognised Bheem as his descendant through Kunti's family line and helped secure his reward. Aryak was the paternal great-grandfather of Kunti's father, Shurasen. This made Aryak Bheem's maternal ancestor.
- Duryodhan tried again: The Mahabharat describes another attempt to poison Bheem. Yuyutsu, Dhritarashtra's son, warned the Pandavas and helped prevent the plot from succeeding.
- Yudhishthir urged caution: After Bheem returned, Yudhishthir advised his brothers to remain vigilant and avoid openly revealing everything they knew.
Why It Matters Today
Duryodhan's actions show how jealousy can destroy trust and turn competition into hostility. His desire for power made him see his own cousins as enemies rather than family.
Bheem's survival is a memorable part of the epic, but the episode also reminds us that strength alone does not define a person. Character matters just as much. When envy controls our decisions, even success can become meaningless.
References
- Mahabharat
- Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Sections 128-129, describing Bheem's poisoning, his encounter with the Nagas, his meeting with Vasuki and Aryak, and the subsequent plot.
