Mahabharata ( A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose) Part-33 A
By Lokanath Mishra
Bhima and the Fall of Bakasura
When Yudhishthira returned home and heard everything, he could no longer hide his displeasure. Turning to his mother Kunti, he said with anguish,
“Who willingly walks into the jaws of death? First Bhima was sent to face the crocodile, and now you are sending him to Bakasura as well. Do you bear some anger against him? This time I will go myself and offer my life to that demon.”
Kunti smiled calmly and replied,
“He has troubled me enough already. What difference does it make whether such a son lives or not?”
Yudhishthira was stunned.
“What are you saying, Mother? Has any mother ever spoken like this about her own son?”
Kunti laughed gently and said,
“My son, he is also my child, just like you. But because of your brotherly affection, you fail to understand his true strength. When he was born, a tiger came to devour him. The child cried and flailed his arms and legs—and with a kick, the tiger lost its life. Once, he smashed a peak of the Shatashringa mountain with his foot and broke it apart. That mountain blessed him with the strength of a hundred lions. Do not worry. Everything will be well.”
The next day, at the appointed place, Bhima arrived carrying rice and cakes meant for Bakasura. The demon did not arrive on time. Hungry and impatient, Bhima began eating.
With his right hand he shoveled mouthfuls of rice, and with his left he tossed five or seven cakes at a time into his mouth. The mighty Bhimasena, tormented by hunger, ate with the speed and force of a raging wind.
After some time, Bakasura finally appeared, roaring furiously,
“Who dares to eat my food before me?”
The demon charged forward shouting,
“Why have you polluted my feast?”
Bhima continued eating, completely unconcerned. Bakasura hurled threats and curses, but Bhima had no time to listen—he was too busy with his meal.
Enraged, Bakasura uprooted a massive tree and struck at Bhima. He rained huge boulders upon him and finally slammed one straight onto Bhima’s back. By then, Bhima had finished eating.
He stood up calmly, rubbed his stomach with satisfaction, and let out a loud belch.
“Ah! My soul is content at last,” he said, finally turning to look at the demon.
Bhima laughed and said,
“You wicked creature! Who interrupts a man while he is eating? One should never strike an enemy during a meal. You are truly ignorant and uncivilized.”
Bakasura looked around and saw that not a grain of rice or a single cake remained. Trembling with rage, he shouted,
“If not the food, then I shall eat you! You are fat enough to satisfy my hunger.”
Bhima grinned and replied,
“It’s been many days since my limbs have ached from lack of exercise. Today, that pain will finally be relieved.”
Blazing with fury, Bakasura hurled stones one after another at Bhima. At one point, he seized Bhima by the neck and slammed him to the ground. For the first time, Bhima appeared to falter.
But only for a moment.
Rising again, Bhima turned the demon over, mounted his chest, and began raining thunderous blows with his iron fists.
Bakasura screamed in agony as Bhima, seated like a mountain upon his chest, struck him with crushing force. Blood poured from the demon’s mouth and nose. His eyes bulged, his tongue hung out, and with a final terrifying roar, the wicked Bakasura gave up his life.
The demon’s corpse looked even more dreadful in death—his face mangled and blood-soaked from Bhima’s blows. Bhima propped the body against a tree and calmly returned.
That very night, on Kunti’s advice, the Pandavas quietly left Ekachakra. Kunti knew that if they stayed, the people would make Bhima their king and refuse to let the brothers leave.
At dawn, villagers who went into the forest discovered Bakasura’s horrific corpse. Terrified, they fled back and announced that Bakasura had not received his due offering and must be raging in anger.
Panic spread through the land. The people investigated whose turn it had been. When they questioned the Brahmin Vedashrava, he replied,
“One of the guests staying in my house went willingly.”
When they went to the Pandavas’ dwelling, they found it empty. Once again, rice and cakes were prepared, and Vedashrava himself took them on two carts. From a distance, he loudly begged Bakasura’s forgiveness, pleading that the entire city not be punished for the fault of one day.
Receiving no response, he cautiously approached—and realized that the demon was already dead. Nearby stood the carts and oxen sent earlier, untouched.
Vedashrava now understood that his guest had slain Bakasura. The people of Ekachakra praised him greatly and declared him king of the city.
Some time later, Krishna and Balarama visited Hastinapura and met Dhritarashtra. In private, Krishna asked Vidura about the Pandavas, but Vidura knew nothing of their whereabouts.
Krishna then remembered Sage Vyasa. Vyasa appeared and, after meditation, revealed that the Pandavas were residing in the Panchavati forest on the banks of the Ramabeni River.
A discussion followed among Krishna, Vidura, and Vyasa regarding the forthcoming swayamvara of the princess of Panchala—an event that would soon change the destiny of the Pandavas forever.
( to be continued)
Mahabharata ( A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose) Part-33
The Union Budget and the Forgotten Taxpayer : Why Pensioners, Employees and the Middle Class Continue to Be Ignored
The Last Row