Kunti left no stone unturned to bring up her sons. On the one hand, she gave them her love and on the other hand, she took care of them like father. Kunti and her sons were loved and supported by the saints and sages in the forest. So, all the sons of Pandu became able. When they grew up, Kunti felt worried about their education.
The news of the death of Pandu and Madri spread through the forest and the kingdom, till it reached the palace at Hastinapur. Kunti and her sons were brought back to Hastinapur. A few days later, Krishna and Balarama reached there to meet their aunt. Krishna was younger than Bhima but elder to Arjuna. He befriended all the Pandavas sensing their right conduct. Gandhari loved Kunti’s son equally. After the death of King Pandu, Dhritrashtra was made king of Hastinapur. The hundred sons of Dhritrashtra were called the ‘Kauravas’ and Pandu’s five sons were called ‘Pandavas’.
Once, sage Vyasa visited the palace and said to queen mother Satyavati, “Mother! The future of Hastinapur is at stake now. There is no way out, so it is not advisable for you to stay here.” With the guidance of the sage the queen mother Satyavati with Ambika and Ambalika proceeded to the forest.
The five Pandavas and the hundred sons of Dhritrashtra grew up studying and playing together. With the advice of Bhishma, Kripacharya taught them the art of warfare. Duryodhana’s maternal uncle Shakuni always provoked him that he would never be able to become the crown-prince of Hastinapur in the presence of the Pandavas.
So, Duryodhana disliked Bhima and Yudhishthira very much. All the princes were intelligent. Yudhishthira was well versed in statecraft and practising the art of throwing a javelin. Arjuna wished to be an archer whereas the powerful Bhima wanted to be adept in mace-duel. Duryodhana out of jealousy wanted to be like Bhima. So, he too was practising mace-duel. Once, all the princes went to the forest for a stroll. There, Duryodhana and his brothers poisoned Bhima and threw him into the river. Yudhishthira felt worried when Bhima did not return.
Bhima was bitten by poisonous snakes in the river. It neutralised the effect of Duryodhana’s poison. Seeing Bhima alive Duryodhana felt enraged in his heart.
