Editing Bhima (section)

===Later years and death===
[[File:The blind Dhritarashtra attacks the statue of Bhima.jpg|thumb|The blind Dhritarashtra attacks the statue of Bhima, from [[Razmnama]] manuscript, c. 1616 - 1617]]
After the [[Kurukshetra War]], Bhima played a significant role in the events that followed. He pursued [[Ashwatthama|Ashvatthama]], who had killed [[Upapandavas|Draupadi's sons]] (including Bhima's son Sutasoma) in a night raid on the Pandava camp (Sauptika Parva, Chapter 13, Verse 16). After Ashwatthama was subdued and his powerful gem was taken from him, Bhima presented the gem to [[Draupadi]] (Sauptika Parva, Chapter 16, Verse 26), consoling her. Later, Bhima apologised to [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]], the mother of the [[Kaurava|Kauravas]] (Stri Parva, Chapter 15), and [[Dhritarashtra]], who attempted to kill him by crushing him in a bear hug. Krishna intervened by replacing Bhima with a metal statue, and Dhritarashtra's rage was appeased when he shattered the statue, allowing him to partially forgive him.<ref name=":1" />

When [[Yudhishthira]] expressed a desire to renounce the world and take up the life of a sannyasin, Bhima urged Yudhishthira to remain on the throne (Shanti Parva, Chapter 19). Yudhishthira appointed Bhima as the commander-in-chief of Hastinapura. (Shanti Parva, Chapter 41, Verse 9)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12a041.htm|title=Mahabharata Text}}</ref> and settled him in the palace that had belonged to Duryodhana (Shanti Parva, Chapter 44, Verse 6). During the [[Ashvamedha|Ashvamedha Yajna]] conducted by Yudhishthira, Bhima took on the responsibility of measuring the sacrificial ground alongside the Brahmins (Ashvamedha Parva, Chapter 88, Verse 6). During this period, [[Babruvahana|Babhruvahana]], a son of [[Arjuna]], visited Bhima, who sent him back with gifts of money and food grains (Ashvamedha Parva, Chapter 88, Verse 6).   Bhima initially opposed Dhritarashtra's request for funds to perform riyuals for those who had died in the war, but agreed after persuasions from Dhritarashta and Yudhishthira (Ashramavasika Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 7). After Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and [[Kunti]] retired to the forest, Bhima visited them once (Ashramavasika Parva, Chapter 23).<ref name=":1" />

After almost three decades, upon the onset of the ''[[Kali Yuga]]'', the [[Pandava|Pandavas]] delegated the administration of the kingdom to [[Parikshit]], and embarked on their final journeyto the [[Himalayas]]. During the journey, [[Draupadi]], [[Sahadeva]], [[Nakula]], and [[Arjuna]] each succumbed to death in succession. Bhima inquired about the cause of these deaths, and Yudhishthira provided him with appropriate explanations. When Bhima himself was on the verge of death, he questioned the reason, and Yudhishthira attributed it to Bhima's [[gluttony]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m17/m17002.htm|title = The Mahabharata, Book 17: Mahaprasthanika Parva: Section II}}</ref> In some versions of the story, Yudhishthira points out Bhima's boastfulness, gluttony, and battle-lust as the reasons for his fall. Bhima is seen among the [[Maruts]] and sitting next to his father [[Vayu]], when Yudhisthira ascended to [[Svarga]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m18/m18004.htm|title = The Mahabharata, Book 18: Svargarohanika Parva: Section IV}}</ref>