The Story of Bakaasura

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The Story of Bakaasura

Source:http://www.ramakrishnamath.com

 

The evil minded Duryodhana built a lac palace and invited the Pandava

brothers with their mother Kunti to stay there. Duryodhana had

planned to set the whole palace on fire to kill them.

 

With the help of Vidura, Bhima came to know of that plan and he

escaped carrying his brothers and Kunti.They reached a town called

Ekachakrapura and they lived in a Brahmin's house disguised as

brahmins.

 

One day as usual Yudhisthira and others went out for Bhiksha. Bhima

and Kunti stayed back at home. They suddenly heard someone crying.

They saw that the brahmin and his wife were crying. Bhima and Kunti

were shocked. On asking for the reason the brahmin's wife

said, " What shall I say about our misfortunes? Just outside this

town lives a rakshasa called bakaasura. He was killing people

indiscriminately. The village people joined together and requested

bakaasura that he stop the indiscriminate killing. In return they

promised that they would send one person with cartload of food and 2

bullocks from each household in that village by turns.

 

Tomorrow is our son's turn. You know that we have only one son and

if he is killed we do not know how we will live. " sobbed the lady.

 

On hearing this story Kunti felt very sad and she said

immediately, " See, you have only one son but I have five sons I can

send one of them. So, tomorrow your son need not go but Bhima will

go instead " she suggested.

 

The brahmin was horrified and said, " I will never agree to such a

proposal. You are guests in our house and guests have to be treated

as Gods. How can I ever send out an athithi (guest) to die? "

 

Kunti persuaded them and said, " We are your guests and it is our

duty to share your sorrow. Bhima is strong. He will be a good match

to Bakaasura. He may kill him and free the villagers of this menace

forever. Even if he is killed I will have four sons. You do not have

to worry. "

 

Bhima also persuaded the brahmin couple to agree to Kunti's

suggestion. He was very confident that he would kill the bakaasura

and he was very excited at the prospect of getting cartload of

delicacies to eat while going to Bakaasura.

 

Accordingly the next day Bhima went with a cartload of food. A

terrible fight took place between him and the Bakaasura and the

Bakaasura was killed.

 

The villagers were very happy and they praised Bhima and Kunti. To

repay the hospitality and love of the brahmin couple Kunti was ready

to sacrifice her own son.

GOMU <gokulmuthu