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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 55 Bhima Confronts Baka >>
 |  | When the night had passed, the Pandava Bhimasena gathered the food and went to where the man-eater was waiting. Approaching the Raksasa's forest, the powerful Pandava called out the Raksasa's name, Baka, inviting him to come and eat the food. Thereupon the Raksasa, hearing Bhimasena's words, came in a fit of rage to where Bhima was stationed. Baka's body was huge, and as he came at great speed he seemed to shatter the earth. He tightened his eyebrows, which stood up like tridents, and he chewed horribly on his lips.
| | | [While waiting for the demon, Bhima had begun to eat the food.] Seeing that Bhimasena was eating food meant for him, the Raksasa opened his eyes wide and angrily said, "Who is this stupid man who before my very eyes eats food sent for me? He must be eager to visit the lord of death!"
| | | Hearing this, O Bharata, Bhima simply laughed, rudely ignored the Raksasa, looked away, and continued to eat. Then with a heart-stopping scream, the man-eater raised his hands and rushed to kill Bhimasena. But the mighty Pandava warrior again showed his contempt for the Raksasa, for without even looking up he continued to eat the food.
| | | Wild with indignation, the Raksasa stood behind Kunti's son and slammed him in the back with both fists. Thus severely struck by the powerful demon, Bhima did not even glance at the Raksasa but went on eating.
| | | Bhima gradually finished his meal. After washing his hands and mouth with water, that best of men stood up with all his enormous power, overjoyed at the opportunity to fight.
| | | Newly enraged, the mighty Raksasa uprooted a tree and again rushed upon Bhima, trying to smash him with this weapon. As the tree was furiously hurled at him, powerful Bhima simply grabbed it. He held it with his left hand and laughed loudly, O Bharata.
| | | Thereupon the demon pulled many kinds of trees out of the earth and hurled them at Bhima, who hurled them back at the Raksasa. A terrifying fight with trees arose between Baka and the Pandava, O king, and all the forest trees were ruined.
| | | Proudly shouting his own name, Baka then rushed up to mighty Bhima and seized him with his arms. Bhimasena then wrapped his own huge arms about the Raksasa. As the demon writhed mightily in Bhima's grip, powerful Bhima dragged him about, and the demon dragged him in turn. Thus the man-eater was afflicted by intense fatigue. By the great power of the two fighters, the very earth shook. Battling their way through the forest, they pulverized gigantic trees.
| | | Seeing clearly that the Raksasa was coming to the end of his endurance, Vrkodara, Bhima, slammed him against the ground and pounded him with his fists. Then Bhima pushed hard with his knee on the demon's back, holding the demon's neck with his right hand and seizing the demon's waist cloth with his left. As the demon screamed and bellowed in horrible anguish, Bhima broke him in two. As the horrible monster was being cracked apart, blood flowed from his mouth.
| | | Terrified by the sound, the Raksasa's loyal followers rushed out of their homes, O king, accompanied by their servants. The powerful Bhima calmed them down, for they were practically fainting with fright. That best of fighters then made them agree to a treaty: "You Raksasas are never again to commit violence against human beings. Those who commit violence will at once be killed in the same way as Baka."
| | | O Bharata, when the Raksasas heard this command they replied, "So be it!" and accepted the terms of the treaty. From that time on, O Bharata, the Raksasas of that country became peaceful and could be seen moving about the city with the humans who dwelled there.
| | | Bhima took the lifeless body of the man-eater, threw it down by the city gate, and departed unseen. Having killed the demon, Bhima returned to the house of the brahmana and told King Yudhisthira all that had happened.
| | | At daybreak, when the people began to walk outside the city gates they beheld the Raksasa lying dead on the ground, ripped asunder, blood still oozing from his body, which resembled a mountain summit. Seeing the frightful scene, they went back into the city of Ekacakra and reported the news.
| | | Then, O king, the men of the city came there by the thousands with their wives, elders, and young children to see the slain Baka. They were all astonished at this superhuman deed, and all the people offered prayers and worship to their deities. The citizens calculated whose turn it had been that day to feed the demon. Thus they approached the brahmana and inquired from him about the awesome event.
| | | Although questioned repeatedly, the brahmana protected the Pandavas. That best of sages declared to all the townspeople, "When ordered to feed the demon, I was weeping with my family when a very mighty brahmana with perfect knowledge of mantras saw me in that pitiable state. He first inquired about the cause of my suffering and then about the misfortune of our city. Laughing as if to encourage me, that most noble brahmana bravely declared, 'I shall deliver this food to the evil Baka! Do not fear for my sake.' He took the food and went toward Baka's forest. Clearly it was that saint who accomplished this feat for the good of the world."
| | | All the brahmanas and ksatriya princes were quite amazed. Together with the merchants and workers they joyfully celebrated a festival in honor of the brahmanas, [for a brahmana had saved them]. Soon after, all the countryfolk came to the city to see the great wonder. The sons of Prtha continued to dwell in the very same place.
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