Bhima Slays the Rakshasa Baka in a Duel
Bhimasena takes the food offerings meant for the rakshasa Baka and eats them in the monster's own forest, deliberately provoking a confrontation. When the enraged demon attacks, Bhima ignores him, finishes his meal, and then engages in a brutal, earth-shaking duel. The fight ends not with weapons, but with Bhima's bare hands tearing the rakshasa in two.
The brahmanas of Ekachakra had a terrible arrangement. Each week, one household had to send a cartload of food and a human being to the forest as an offering to the rakshasa (demon) Baka. If they failed, the demon would come and devour everyone in the village. The cycle of fear was absolute.
When the Pandavas, disguised as brahmanas, took shelter in one such household, they learned that it was their host's turn to send the offering. His entire family wept. Kunti, the Pandavas' mother, intervened. She told her son Bhimasena to take the food instead. He would go, eat the offering himself, and kill the rakshasa.
When night passed, Bhimasena took the cartload of food and left for the place where the maneater lived. Reaching the forest, the immensely strong Pandava did not wait. He began to eat the food himself and called out to the rakshasa by name.
On hearing Bhimasena’s words, the rakshasa was greatly enraged and came to where Bhima was. His body was huge, his speed so swift he seemed to be breaking up the ground. His forehead was furrowed into three lines and he bit his lips. On seeing Bhimasena eating the food, the rakshasa dilated his eyes and angrily said, “Who are you, stupid one, who dares to eat these offerings meant for me, that too in front of my own eyes? Do you wish to go to the land of the dead?”
Bhimasena began to laugh. Ignoring the rakshasa, he turned his head away and continued to eat.
Uttering a terrible roar and raising both arms high, the maneater rushed at Bhimasena with the intention of killing him. Even then, Pandava Vrikodara — the wolf-bellied one, the killer of enemy warriors — ignored the rakshasa. Casting only a glance, he went on eating.
Greatly enraged, the rakshasa struck a mighty blow with both his hands on the back of Kunti’s son. Though Bhima was powerfully struck by those arms, he did not even look up, and continued to eat.
Thereupon, the rakshasa became even more enraged. He uprooted a tree and powerfully dashed at Bhima, so as to strike him again.
Bhima, bull among men and immensely strong, slowly finished eating all the food. He washed himself and then cheerfully stood up to fight.
The valorous Bhima laughingly caught the tree that had been angrily hurled — catching it in his left hand. Then that powerful rakshasa hurled many other trees at Bhimasena and the Pandava Bhima also hurled many at him. The terrible and great fight between Baka and the Pandava with trees went on, denuding the forest.
Announcing his name, Baka dashed at the Pandava and grasped the immensely powerful Bhimasena in both his arms. Bhimasena also grasped the rakshasa in his great arms and began to violently drag the swift and strong one.
Dragged by Bhima and also dragging the Pandava, the maneater was gradually overcome by great fatigue. The earth shook because of their violent movements. Giant trees that stood nearby were shattered into pieces.
On seeing the rakshasa fading away, Vrikodara pressed him down on the ground and began to strike him with his arms. Powerfully pushing the middle of the demon's back down with one knee, the Pandava grabbed his neck with his right hand and his loincloth with the left, and then ripped the rakshasa into two with great force.
Uttering a terrible roar, the fearsome rakshasa was torn apart by Bhima and vomited blood.
The threat to Ekachakra was over.