Draupadi is the main female character in Mahabharat around whom the story of the war is woven. She was married to all the five Pandava brothers, but she was not their only wife. The example of Draupadi points to polyandry, somewhat as an aberration, but polygamy was a common practice in Mahabharat. There is mention of 13 wives for the five Pandavas. Of them Hidimbaa was the first one to marry a Pandava - Bhim, the strongman.
Bhim met Hidimbaa during their travails of Vanbas (wandering in forest) as the five bachelor brothers with their mother Kunti escaped from being burnt alive from the Jatugriha (house of lac) built for them by the Kauravas. It is mentioned that as Bhim went to fetch water he met the beautiful Rakshasi (she-Demon) wandering alone in the forest. She was attracted to his strong manly frame and he to her beauty. But her brother Hidimb arrived at the scene and seeing both together got furious. He tried to attack Bhim with the intention of killing him and eating him up. But Bhim, the strongest of Pandavas, defeated and killed him after a terrible hand to hand fight.
Then Bhim brought Hidimbaa to his mother and other brothers. As she was now left with no guardian, Kunti ordered Bhim to marry her, which he did with the greatest delight. They had their honeymoon and consummated the marriage in the forest. Ghatotkacha was born of the union. Hidimbaa remained in the forest with her son as Bhim moved on with his brothers and mother.
During the Rajsuya Yagna done to showcase the establishment of Indraprastha kingdom by Yudhisthir, all relatives, friends and kings from different parts of the country and even Gods from heaven were invited. Naturally, Ghatotkacha joined the festivities along with his mother. They arrived with their Rakshasa entourage, atop elephants in full splendour with many gifts for the king. The magic they weaved around them made people wonder about who they were. When Yudhisthir was informed about their arrival they were welcomed with full honours by Sahadev. As Ghatotkacha went to meet the King, his mother Hidimbaa was taken to the Antapur (inner sanctum) for the females.
Reaching the palace, Hidimba directly went to her mother in law Kunti and paid obeisance to her by touching her feet. Then she took the place by her side and her radiant beauty stunned everyone present. But one person who was not at all impressed was Draupadi and quite naturally so. This was her show as she was the queen of the palace. Out of jealousy, she treated Hidimba as an usurper. There was already hostility present between the two ladies over their love for Bhim. This reached a flashpoint with Hidimbaa preening in the presence of everyone.
Draupadi got enraged and abused Hidimbaa calling her a slut who enticed the simple Bhim with her body and beauty. She also alluded to her staying independent as being of loose character. This angered Hidimbaa and she decided to give it back to Draupadi pointing how her father was defeated and shackled by Arjun and she chose the enemy in marriage. She asserted that her marriage with Bhim was based on pure love and reminded Draupadi that as the wife of a Pandava she was the senior most and therefore demanded respect. She went on to detail how she has reared up her son alone into the best warrior and how young Ghatotkacha was an asset for the Pandavas, as there was no one that could beat him with conventional warfare.
The two women went on with their verbal volleys true to form and then in a moment of heated argument, Draupadi first cursed. She prophesied that Ghatotkacha will be felled by the divine weapon in battle. This made Hidimbaa also curse Draupadi of the loss of her five sons. The two females were calmed down by Kunti and others but by that time they had already uttered their deadly curses.
The curses uttered by the two women who hated each other came true, The Pandavas lost all their progenies except Babhrubahan. Their lineage was kept alive by Abhimanyu's son Parikshit who was still in his mother's womb during the war.
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