Bakasura

Once upon a time wandering in the forest Pandavas and their mother Kunti, happened to stay in a brahmin's house. The brahmin and his wife treated them kindly. Kunti discovered that the brahmin and his family were in some kind of a trouble. Kunti asked the brahmin's wife what the problem was, but brahmin's wife refused to talk about it.

The brahmin's wife said " you are our honoured guest and it is not proper to share our sorrows with our guests". Kunti replied , "either you share your problem with us or we leave this place and stay somewhere else". With tears in her eyes the brahmin's wife began to narrate the story. She said, beyond the mountains there lives a fierce giant in a cave named Bakasura. He used to come down to the village and take away men, women, and cattle and eat them up.

Our king fought the giant but Bakasura defeated him. The king fled to save his life and so villagers decided to make peace with Bakasura. We send him a cart- load of cooked food, two bullocks, and a human being daily as food for the giant Bakasura. He eats the food , the bullocks, and the human being as well. Every day one person is chosen from the village and now our turn has come.

We are a small family, my husband, our only son and me. Kunti tried to comfort her, you have only one son but I have five. Kunti called all her sons and told them about the danger before the brahmin's family. Kunti asked Bhima to take the food to the giant tomorrow. The brahmin women protested. She said she would not allow any of Kunti's children to be killed.

Bhima assured her, I am a strong man I shall see the giant and return safely. After lot of persuasion the brahmin's family agreed. Early next morning, Bhima riding a cart filled with food and driven by two fat bullocks reached the giants cave. Bhima stopped some distance away from the giant and instead of offering the food to the giant he began to eat himself what he had brought for the giant.

Bakasura became very angry and a fierce battle ensued between the two . Bhima fought with the giant, giving blow for blow. At last he killed the giant. Bhima returned to the village in the evening. All the people in the village had gathered to thank him for saving their lives from Bakasura.