Sages & Others
Hidimbi
हिडिम्बा
The Rakshasi Queen
Who was Hidimbi?
Hidimbi (हिडिम्बा): The Rakshasi Queen, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. A Rakshasi sent by her brother Hidimba to lure the fleeing Pandavas to his feast - instead she fell in love with Bhima and warned them.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | हिडिम्बा |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | The Rakshasi Queen |
| Faction | Sages & Others |
| Key traits | Loving, Loyal, Shapeshifter, Mother |
| Notable relationships | Husband: Bhima, Mother-in-law: Queen Kunti |
| Featured in | 9 stories |
About Hidimbi
A Rakshasi sent by her brother Hidimba to lure the fleeing Pandavas to his feast - instead she fell in love with Bhima and warned them. After Bhima slew her brother, she became his wife and the mother of Ghatotkacha, the half-demon hero of the war.
In Their Words
My brother comes to eat you - flee, or let me carry you to safety, for I love you.
Hidimbi
Traits
- Loving
- Loyal
- Shapeshifter
- Mother
Story Appearances
Stories Featuring Hidimbi
8 further tales on this site name Hidimbi, in canonical reading order.
- Bhima and HidimbiThe Birth of Ghatotkacha
- Hidimbi, Queen of the ForestThe wife left behind who kept faith
- The Promise Made in the Kamyaka WoodsThe allies arrive, and Draupadi asks Krishna what her friendship is worth
- Ghatotkacha Between Two WorldsThe half-blood's uncounted service
- The Three ColumnsAt midday on the eighth day the Pandava army splits into three attacking bodies, Arjuna's son Iravan is killed, and Bhishma sends twelve warriors to pull Duryodhana out of the fire.
- Ghatotkacha and the Javelin of BhagadattaDuryodhana asks to kill a Rakshasa, and a Rakshasa breaks a javelin on his knee
- One Man Against an Army of the NightAshwatthama burns a full akshauhini of Ghatotkacha's rakshasas
- The Shape of GhatotkachaSanjaya describes the rakshasa's body, chariot and host as he charges Karna at midnight
Character Arc
- The ChoiceBetrays her brother for love
- The SonBears the mighty Ghatotkacha
Key Relationships
- HusbandBhima
- Mother-in-lawQueen Kunti
Places in Hidimbi's Story
Drawn from the stories Hidimbi appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Sages & Others.