God of War

Bhanumati's Swyamvar

Two months later, Kalinga

A woman was standing near the Chandravaga river in Kalinga and a group of people was sitting near her. They are a clan of Nomads who roam from one place to another. They used to show magic tricks, sell different handicrafts and entertain others with their singing and dancing. For these months they roamed many places but never stayed in one place for more than one week. The leader of the nomads was a beautiful, young woman who had a hint of sadness on her face. The said woman was standing near the river and was thinking about her life. 'Sardarni Hansini,' someone called. She saw  Dundubhi, her most trusted man standing behind her. 

Hansini, 'What happened Dunduvi?'

Dunduvi, 'You skipped your meal again? Please don't do this to yourself princess. Atleast think about your unborn.'

Hansini smiled sadly, 'Whom are you calling princess? I am a sinner, betrayer of my own kin. So what's the point of my life now?'

Dunduvi, 'Please don't say that. It's not your fault that we all believed in the wrong person. In fact we all believed in them and helped them to free ourselves from the tyrrant Hidimb. But now you have to live princess, to protect our bloodline you have to be strong. The unborn child of yours is the last of the royal bloodline and we will give up our lives even necessary to protect both of you.'

Hansini a.k.a Hidimba looked at the setting sun. For last couple of months, she and some of her loyal Rakshasas were roaming around in disguise as nomads. After they ran away from Rakshasvan, many of her people blamed her for their conditions. They called her names and tried to kill her. Somehow some loyal of her people saved her and they left the place. After a few days she had realized that she was pregnant with Bheem's child. Bheem spent his nuptial night with her and now she realized that it was not out of love but to earn her trust and to satiate his carnal desires. She wanted to commit suicide but her loyal friends somehow made her realized that the unborn child was innocent. Another problem was the Pandavas, they spread the news that Rakshasas attacked the innocents and they, the illustrious great Panduputras had saved them from the Rakshasas with their valor and bravery. Now they used the Rakshasas as slaves and used all the resources of Rakshasvan. They also sent spies to find Hidimba. So Hidimba and party now disguised as humans and roaming to find a safe place and now they came to Kalinga which was quite far from Indraprastha.   

Kalinga Royal palace,

Princess Bhanumati, the only daughter of King Gajapati was the apple of every citizen's eyes. The princess of Kalinga was an intelligent, fierce and capable princess who not only well versed in politics, literature, and accountancy but also a fearsome mace warrior. Actually, she was a student of Shree Balram and entire Aryavart was familiar with her political prowess. She loved her citizens like her own family and that was why every subject of Kalinga worshipped her as Devi Durga. 

King Gajapati was tensed for his daughter's future. Most of the royal families of Aryavart believed in Patriarchy. For them, women were just a trophy to portray their beauty and a machine to procure sons. But he gave all necessary education to her daughter and she was more than capable to run a kingdom. But who would understand his daughter and respect her decisions? However his tension was relieved when Shri Krishna himself came and offered him a solution.

Shri Krishna, 'maharaj, why don't you arrange a swyamvar for her. That is the only way she can choose her own groom.'

Bhanumati also agreed with the proposal but her condition was, that she would marry only that man who could defeat her in mace fighting. Gajapati was tensed but had faith on his daughter. So he sent invitations to all the kingdoms. Though he did not like the Kurus but still he sent an invitation as if he did not, the kurus would think that as an insult and attack him. At Krishna's suggestion, he also sent invitations to Indraprastha and Anga separately.