Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.1183

c5.1183

One day, the Kauravas, with the object of doing away with Bhīma, escorted the Pāṇḍavas to Pramāṇakoṭi on the banks of the Gaṅgā for water sports. There all of them ate sumptuous meals and took various drinks. But, Duryodhana had secretly mixed Kālakūṭa poison in the food of Bhīma. After taking meals they began playing water-sports. After the sports were over they returned to their tents and slept. Owing to the effects of the poison and the overexertion during the day Bhīma slept stone dead. While all were asleep during the night Duryodhana bound the hands and legs of Bhīma with cords and threw him into the depths of the Gaṅgā. Bhīma who was still unconscious sank down to the very bottom of the river where the denizens of nāgaloka saw him and the nāgas bit him in anger. The poison of the nāgas neutralised the effects of Kālakūṭa poison in Bhīma, though their bite could not make even a scratch on his skin. Freed thus from the effects of poison Bhīma shook himself up from sleep and drove off the nāgas. Alarmed at these developments the nāgas called Vāsuki up to the scene, and he, recognising Bhīma held him in embrace and gave him much money and costly gems etc. Bhīma refused the gifts, but asked Vāsuki for nāgarasa, which would impart the strength of thousand nāgas and those who used it. Vāsuki gave Bhīma eight potfuls of nāgarasa, which the latter drank to the last dregs and thus gained immeasurable strength.