Bhima Meets Hanuman While Searching For Saugandhika Flowers : Episode 96

Recap of Previous Episode :

Karna becomes a disciple of Parasurama by concealing his identity and learns the Brahmastra. Arjuna is cursed by Urvashi to become a eunuch for one year after resisting her advances. Shikhandi returns after obtaining permanent masculinity, saving Drupada’s honor. Kubera curses Sthulakarna to remain female until Shikhandi dies.

Parasurama Discovers Karna’s True Identity

Sage Parasurama rests under a tree, placing his head on Karna’s lap. Karna sits proudly, imagining the day he will defeat Arjuna using the Brahmastra.

At that moment, Indra devises a plan to expose Karna’s lie. He assumes the form of a bee and stings Karna sharply on the thigh.

The pain is unbearable, yet Karna remains still, unwilling to disturb his guru. Blood trickles onto Parasurama’s body and wakes him. Realizing that only a Kshatriya is capable of such tolerance, Parasurama deduces that Karna lied about his caste.

Enraged by the deception, he curses Karna: “In the moment you need the Brahmastra the most, you shall forget its mantra.”

Karna falls at his feet and begs forgiveness. Parasurama softens slightly, acknowledging Karna as his finest student, and gifts him his chariot and the Bhargava Astra.

Shikhandi Learns of the Yaksha’s Curse

Shikhandi visits the Yaksha Sthulakarna to return the borrowed manhood. However, the Yaksha explains that Kubera has cursed him to remain a woman as long as Shikhandi lives.

Shikhandi attempts to end his life to free the Yaksha, but remembers Lord Shiva’s command that one must face the consequences of one’s karma. The Yaksha too accepts the destiny humbly, believing that perhaps this sacrifice is divinely ordained.

Shikhandi returns to Panchala and informs King Drupada, who is relieved and grateful.

Indra Softens Urvashi’s Curse

Indra asks Urvashi to understand Arjuna’s perspective—that humans are bound by different laws of honor. Moved, Urvashi amends her curse:

Arjuna will remain a eunuch only for one year, to be chosen at his discretion.

Bhima Meets Hanuman

During pilgrimage, Draupadi sees a Saugandhika flower and asks Bhima to fetch it. Bhima follows the scent into the forest and finds an old monkey blocking the path with his tail.

When Bhima fails to lift it, he understands that the monkey is none other than Lord Hanuman, his celestial brother. Bhima bows reverently, and Hanuman blesses him, promising to roar alongside Bhima’s battle cry in the great war and appear on Arjuna’s chariot flag.

He also reveals that the flower Bhima seeks grows only in Kubera’s guarded realm, Alakapuri, accessible only to the righteous.

Vyasa Narrates Arjuna’s Heroic Battles

Sage Vyasa recites the tale of Arjuna’s victory over the Nivata Kavachas and Bhima’s conquest over Jatasura.

Shakuni Plots a Visit to Humiliate the Pandavas

Duryodhana is restless — wealth means nothing when the Pandavas are not present to witness his grandeur. Shakuni suggests visiting the Pandavas in the forest to provoke Draupadi’s humiliation. Together, they decide how to convince Dhritarashtra.