The Birth of Ghatotkacha and the Slaying of Bakasura

“Mother, please bless me by giving me your darshan once. I cannot find peace without seeing you.”

“Mother.”

“My child Devavrata, do not grieve, son. Be at peace.”

Bhishma, the great Devavrata, bowed low before Mother Ganga and said, “Mother has kindly come. Please accept my greetings. Mother, can you tell me how I can be peaceful? Since hearing this bad news, I have lost all desire to live. Mother, I want nothing more. After the death I can choose by my father's boon, now please give me permission to leave this world.”

Mother Ganga’s voice grew firm. “Mother, the same words again? Son, have you lost your mind? Have you forgotten that you are bound by your vow to protect the kingdom of Hastinapur and the royal throne?”

“Mother, I have not forgotten,” Bhishma replied. “But before this terrible sorrow and the hateful greed of the Kauravas, I can no longer control myself. I am bound to the throne and the king, but I fear that in some weakness of mind I may insult that duty. That fear is now growing strong in my head.”

“Shame, Devavrata,” said Ganga. “Are you not the disciple of sage Vashistha? Is this your knowledge of the scriptures? Grief, pain, anger without control, these are signs of weakness of mind. You are given to your work alone. As the great flow of action moves you, so you must move. Where then is your own liking or disliking in this? Do not forget, Devavrata, you are bound only by your duty. This duty is the fate of man. It returns again and again. Once one is born on earth, there is no escape from it. With a calm and steady mind, just keep doing your duty, Devavrata. Let it not disturb you who comes and who goes around you.”

Bhishma lowered his head. “Forgive me, Mother. Out of attachment I had become weak. But Mother, have the Pandavas truly come to harm? Are they safe? If I get just this assurance, I will be at peace. Please be kind and lighten this heavy burden in my heart.”

Ganga answered, “Your peace or unrest, your victory or defeat, all these are tied to Hastinapur. Those who are not in Hastinapur, how can they be the cause of unrest in your mind? Remember your limits and your vow all your life, Devavrata. Such common weakness does not suit you. Go, child, return to the palace.”

“As you command. Greetings, Mother.”

“May you always be happy.”

Bhishma did not receive any clear assurance from Mother Ganga about the Pandavas, but much of the uneasy restlessness in his heart became calm. Pure and holy Ganga lifted the burden of joy and sorrow from her son’s heart. With a firm and steady mind, Bhishma returned to the royal palace.

Yet hope rose in him once more. The Pandavas must be alive. Wherever they were, may they be safe. Bhishma prayed this silently to God.

Meanwhile, the news of Varanavat also reached Balarama. He was the teacher of mace fighting to both Duryodhana and Bhima. Not only that, he was also related to the Pandavas. Balarama’s father Vasudeva was Kunti’s brother. So this news made him deeply worried.

Balarama was a little more fond of Duryodhana than of Bhima. Because of that, his heart did not want to believe that Duryodhana could do such a hateful act.

He walked alone in great unrest through the corridor of the palace of Dwaraka. Just then, a wonderfully sweet voice came from behind him.

“Elder brother, I see you are so restless. What has happened to you?”

Balarama turned. “Oh Krishna. Tell me, Krishna, how can this be possible?”

“What seems impossible to you?” Krishna asked gently.

“The Pandavas have burned to ashes in Varanavat. What news have I heard, younger brother? Did you not hear that the house was actually a house of lac? It was made of such burning material. One spark alone could turn deadly there. And that is exactly what happened. But Yudhishthira is so wise. Then why did Yudhishthira go into that lac house?”

Krishna said, “Yes, yes, brother, Yudhishthira did not go there by himself. Purochana invited him and took him there. Dharmaraja only answered that invitation. Yes, yes, elder brother, going into the lac house was not foolishness on the part of the Pandavas, it was their helplessness. Now think about the one who made that lac house by taking advantage of that helplessness.”

“Purochana?” Balarama asked.

“Purochana was only an instrument,” Krishna said. “He carried out Hastinapur’s orders.”

Balarama stared at him. “That means, that means, Krishna, you want to say...”

Krishna smiled slightly. “I am not trying to say anything. I only want to turn your eyes toward what is as clear as daylight. The feelings and unrest of the mind often do not let one see even a simple thing clearly. So I was only helping you a little, elder brother.”

“Have you no worry at all about the Pandavas, Krishna? Then the news is true?”

“As long as there is worry, one cannot judge what is true and false, elder brother. Only in a state free from worry does everything become clear like daylight. Brother Yudhishthira too walks this very path. Come, come, brother, come to the room. You look very tired. You need rest.”

“Very well, let us go.”

The deep forest where the five Pandavas had reached was not safe. They had guided their way by the stars, taking Mother Kunti with them through the night. It was true that they had no fear of snakes or wild beasts. They trusted Arjuna’s skill with weapons and aim, and Bhima’s mighty courage. But the danger they had not guessed had quietly mixed with the darkness of that dangerous night only a few steps away from them.

Under a tree in the deep night, Kunti and four of the Pandavas had fallen asleep from tiredness. Only Bhima remained awake, sitting a little distance away.

On top of a sal tree lived a rakshasa named Hidimba and his rakshasi sister Hidimbaa. Even thick darkness cannot hide things from the eyes of rakshasas. From the top of that tall sal tree, Hidimba saw the five Pandavas with Kunti. He caught their human smell.

At the smell of humans, the terrible rakshasa began to drool with greed. He said to his sister, “After a long time, our favorite food has walked into this forest on its own feet. Look there, six humans are sitting under that tree. Human flesh, human flesh, how long it has been since I ate it. We will sink our sharp teeth into that soft soft soft flesh, cut their throats, and drink plenty of blood. Just thinking of it fills me with joy. Go, go quickly, do not delay. Go at once, trap them and bring them to me. Then then today we shall have a great feast. A great feast. Soft flesh, soft flesh. What joy, soft flesh.”

Then he said, “I will jump over these trees, kill every one of them one by one, and bring them here.”

Hidimbaa looked from above and thought to herself, The smell of humans, the smell of humans. From here I can clearly see those sleeping humans, and beside them sits that young man with shining beauty and a huge body. Never before have I seen such a divine man. I am enchanted just seeing him from this far. Who knows what will happen if I go near him. No, no, I will not listen to my brother. That man alone is worthy to be my husband. I must save the other humans too at once.

So she came down in an enchanting form and approached Bhima.

“O best of men, who are you? Where do you live? And who are these godlike men and this gentle lady sleeping here? Do you know that terrible danger is about to come upon you?”

Bhima looked at her steadily. “Danger? What danger? And who are you?”

“My name is Hidimbaa. In this forest lives my brother, the rakshasa Hidimba. He wants to eat your flesh, so he sent me to bring you there. But I am charmed by seeing you. If you become my husband, then wake them all this moment. I will carry all of you on my back and fly through the sky. Then my brother will not be able to harm you.”

Bhima answered in a calm voice, “Listen, girl, they are tired and sleeping now. I cannot wake them. Whether rakshasa, yaksha, raksha, or gandharva comes, I alone can kill them all. Do not worry about me. Send your brother here.”

“You do not know, prince,” said Hidimbaa, “he is a very terrible rakshasa. Till now no one has escaped alive from his anger. Climb on my back and come away from here at once.”

“I will never leave them in the hands of a rakshasa and go away with you, never. Call your rakshasa. I will kill him first, and only then will I leave this place.”

Seeing the delay, Hidimba himself came quickly to where the Pandavas were. His red eyes burned like fire. His hair was red. Two sharp teeth hung from the sides of his mouth. His huge black body was covered in hair like a wild animal, and his arms and legs were like great tree trunks.

When he came near the Pandavas, he saw his sister in her enchanting form. She wore fine clothes, costly ornaments, and a garland of flowers on her head. At once he understood everything.

Burning with rage, he cried, “Wicked girl, wicked girl, you shameless one, you shameless one, disgrace of the rakshasa race. Along with them, along with them, I will kill you too, kill you too. Come, come, who will come, come before me.”

Bhima stood up and said, “Listen, rakshasa, your sister is not at fault. She is attached to me, so she wanted to save me. But but I will not leave this place without killing you. Look there, my mother and brothers are sleeping now. I do not want to wake them. Come away, under that sal tree. I will fight with you. Come away under the tree.”

A terrible wrestling fight began between Bhima and the rakshasa Hidimba. The sound of their struggle woke Kunti and the four Pandavas. As soon as they opened their eyes, they saw the amazingly beautiful Hidimbaa before them. Hearing everything from her own mouth, Arjuna quickly went and stood at the place of battle.

From a distance he shouted, “Middle brother, dawn is coming. When sunlight rises, rakshasas become even stronger. Do not delay, kill him now. We must leave here. It seems there is a town very near, where Duryodhana and the others will not be able to find us. Finish the work quickly, middle brother.”

Bhima called back, “You are right, younger brother. It is not right to keep him alive any longer. See this, see this, rakshasa, watch how I spin you over my head and throw you far away. Go, now die.”

Bhima overpowered the rakshasa and slew him.

Then Bhima turned toward Hidimbaa and said, “Ah, and why should this rakshasi be left alive? You know, rakshasas should not be left alive to continue their line. They know the tricks of enchantment. They can do harm at any time. Come, come, Hidimbaa, let me send you too to your brother.”

Kunti stopped him at once. “Stop, Bhima. Killing a woman is a great sin. Even if she is a rakshasi, she is still a woman. Do not kill her. She will not be able to harm us. If she wanted to harm us, she would not have come to save you.”

Hidimbaa bowed and said, “Greetings, Mother. Out of love for your son, I have even left my own brother behind. I will do you no harm. Have mercy on me. Let me be joined with this middle son of yours. After some time of happiness with him, I will bring him back and return him to you. Believe me, Mother. If you remember me in your mind, I will come at once to serve you.”

Kunti said kindly, “I believe you, blessed one. But whether Bhima goes with you or not, the final word is the command of my eldest son.”

Then Yudhishthira spoke. “Listen, blessed one, Bhima will go to you in the morning after bathing, and at sunset you must send him back to us again. Will you remember that?”

“Yes, that is what will happen,” Hidimbaa replied.

Bhima then said to her, “Hidimbaa, I will go to you until you have a child. But once a child is born, you will not have me anymore. Remember this.”

Hidimbaa agreed. Then she took Bhima and went away through the sky.

After some time, Bhima and Hidimbaa had a son. This child, born from a part of Indra, was very terrible in strength. His face was large, his head was like a pot and without hair, his ears were very long, his teeth were long and sharp, and the nails on his hands were pointed. His name was Ghatotkacha.

The children of rakshasas grow to youth as soon as they are born. Ghatotkacha did the same. In time, he also became skilled in weapons. Ghatotkacha became a deeply loved child of the Pandavas.

One day, understanding that Bhima’s parting was near, Hidimbaa and Ghatotkacha came to bow before Kunti and the Pandavas. Blessing him, Kunti said, “My child Ghatotkacha, you have been born in the Kuru line. You are the eldest son of the Pandavas. Like Bhima himself, you are a great hero. Help us, child.”

Ghatotkacha bowed and answered, “Greetings, grandmother. Do not worry. In any trouble, if you call me in your mind, I will come there at once. Now please give me leave, and I shall depart with my mother. Greetings, father.”

After bowing to Kunti and the five Pandavas, Ghatotkacha went north with Mother Hidimbaa.

The Pandavas too went farther along the forest path with Mother Kunti. So that travel would be easier and faster, Bhima carried Mother Kunti on his back.

But the Pandavas did not think only of safety. Even in that time of great danger, wherever they got the chance while moving from place to place, they kept learning from the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other scriptures. Study of the scriptures, discussion of the scriptures, and the company of holy men became their only support in that life on the road.

The Pandavas were fleeing from one land to another. They wore matted hair on their heads, animal skins on their bodies, and only shawls around them. Keeping Mother Kunti in the middle, they moved in the dress of ascetics.

After crossing the land of Kichaka, Yudhishthira could not understand which way they should go next. Duryodhana’s spies were everywhere. What if they were caught?

The gods of heaven help the Pandavas. The sages on earth do penance for their good. And I, whom the whole world knows as the wise Vedavyasa, I, that same Vedavyasa, know everything and yet can do nothing. Truly, there is nothing for me to do. In this great story, I am only a witness. Yet yes, where there is dharma, there I am also. So now I must go at once before the doubtful Yudhishthira and show him the way.

“Yudhishthira.”

Yudhishthira looked up with joy. “What is this, great sage Vyasa! How fortunate we are. I bow to you, great sage.”

“May there be good,” said Vyasa. “Listen, child, I know all about you. Do not grieve, Devi. It is true that fate is giving you much pain, but never leave the path of dharma. Good will come to you, I bless you. It is true that I favor no one. The Kauravas and the Pandavas are equal to me. Still, you are walking on the path of justice. Besides, the scriptures say that the poor and children should always be shown mercy. Though you once had royal wealth, today truly you have nothing but the dust of the road. Though born to rule, today you are helpless wanderers. For these two reasons, I have felt pity for you. That is why I have come to help you.”

Kunti said, “Your grace is endless, great sage. My eldest son Yudhishthira can no longer decide the path. Please show us the way, great sage. Which path should we take now?”

Vyasa answered, “I have come to show the way, blessed one. Come with me in disguise to the city of Ekachakra. There I will leave you in the house of a Brahmin. In that city you will stay safely. But remember, until you meet me again, do not leave that city and go anywhere. Otherwise danger may come upon you.”

Yudhishthira bowed. “Without your command, we will make no decision.”

The city of Ekachakra was not very famous, but several pious Brahmins lived there. They cared for guests as if they were gods. When the Pandavas hid themselves in the house of one such Brahmin, they changed their names, identity, and dress so completely that no one could recognize them in any way.

Yet however much five living flames may dress themselves as ascetics, the fire within cannot stay hidden forever. There was some fear of being discovered. But the people of Ekachakra were very simple. They could not even imagine that the princes of Hastinapur were there. To recognize the Pandavas was even farther from their thoughts.

So I had no doubt that they would be safe there. Besides, the people of Ekachakra were in great trouble. They were so burdened by that danger that they had no time even to think of anything else.

In Ekachakra, I arrived at a Brahmin’s house with Kunti and her five sons.

“Master of the house, are you home?”

“Greetings, great sage. Vedavyasa! What good fortune is mine!”

“Blessings, blessings,” said Vyasa. “Can these five ascetics and their mother stay as guests in your house for a few days? They will live by begging for alms. That is their vow.”

“Yes, of course they can. I will gladly make all arrangements. Guest is Narayana. I welcome you all. Please come inside with me. O Brahmini, look, look, what joy has come to our home.”

The people there were quite simple. I thought there would be no trouble in getting alms there. The heat of the sun was steadily growing.

Kunti said, “Sons, go out for alms now at this time. Otherwise you will not be able to eat before noon.”

“Yes, Mother,” said the brothers. “We four brothers are going out to beg for alms. One of us will stay with you.”

Then they went from house to house, saying, “Namo Narayanaya. Is anyone in this house? Will you give a handful of alms to an ascetic?”

At one house a woman said, “Mother, my greetings, holy father. Today Lord Mahadeva himself has come to stand at my door. How fortunate I am.”

The Pandava answered humbly, “I am a beggar by birth, Mother. Please give whatever you wish. I will be content with that.”

“This is all I can give, lord. Please kindly accept this little.”

“Narayana Narayana, may good come to you, Mother.”

That day they gathered enough alms and returned.

“Mother, today we received many things in alms. Look here.”

Kunti said, “You have begged well. Divide it all into two parts, son. After offering one part to the gods, we all shall eat it as sacred food, and the other part Bhima will eat.”

Arjuna laughed and said, “You have spoken rightly, Mother. Otherwise our middle brother will simply eat us all up.”

Kunti smiled and answered, “Arjuna, whenever you get the chance, you make so much fun of Bhima that one day Bhima may truly roast you in his own mouth.”

“Yes, Mother,” they said. “We will do just as you say. Brother Bhima, you arrange the cooking. Meanwhile we will go and bathe.”

Thus the Pandavas lived quite peacefully in Ekachakra. They lived by begging and remained hidden.

One day the four brothers had gone out for alms. Bhima was at home with Mother Kunti. Just then, the sound of crying came from the next room.

Bhima said, “Someone is crying. It seems some trouble must have happened. I had better go and see, Mother.”

Kunti replied, “Yes, son, it seems the master of this house is crying. No, no, you stay here. I will go and see. If it is a family matter, it will not be proper for you to go there. First I will go and listen from a distance, and then we can think about what should be done.”

Kunti was right. It was the master of the house who was crying. Standing behind the door, she saw the Brahmin of the house, his wife, his son, and daughter all gathered there. Every face was heavy with sorrow.

The Brahmin cried, “Alas, O God, this is the day I was afraid of. What will happen now? I must leave you all and go away. Who will look after you? O God, what has happened? What shall I do now, what shall I do?”

Then he said bitterly, “I had told you before, Brahmini, that we should leave this cursed place. But you listened to nothing. Because this was your father’s land and your own birthplace, you were tied by affection. Your father has long since gone to the other world. Now what will happen to us? Tell me. Your birth and your whole life now stand before uncertainty.”

His wife wept and said, “If I do not remain...”

Then she cried out, “No, no, you stay, you stay. I will go. If you leave, we shall all be swept away. Who will run the household? Everything will be finished, everything will be finished. How will I manage alone? Husband, you must not go, do not go. Give me permission instead.”

Their daughter stepped forward and said, “No, no, not any of you. I will go. In a few days I will be married and sent to another house anyway. Better that I go now. I will go, father, give me permission.”

Then the little son said bravely, “I will go. I will kill that rakshasa with this bundle of grass, you will see.”

At that, Kunti came in and said, “Who is there? Please do not mind. Hearing your crying, I could not remain in my room. Have you fallen into some danger? It seemed you were speaking of someone having to go somewhere. What is there?”

The Brahmin answered, “Danger? Yes, danger, a very terrible danger. Lady, not only we, this whole city of Ekachakra is now facing a dreadful danger. You are our guests. Why should you be troubled by hearing all this for nothing?”

“No, no, what are you saying?” Kunti replied. “You have given us shelter, and the scriptures say that one who helps another as much as he can is truly called righteous. Shall we not stand by you in your day of danger? Tell me clearly what has happened. I ask only so that, if truly we can help in any way, we may do so.”

The Brahmin shook his head. “No one can remove the misfortune of this Ekachakra, lady, no one, no one. In a kingdom whose king is as good as absent, everyone must go one by one into the belly of that rakshasa.”

“Rakshasa? Is there a rakshasa here?”

“Yes, lady, there is a terrible rakshasa. His name is Baka Rakshasa. Do you see that hill in the distance? He lives in a cave on top of that hill. The king of this Ekachakra is very weak. He has no power at all to protect the kingdom. That Baka Rakshasa guards this land, and in return, every day he demands a great amount of food, two buffaloes, and one human being. From every house in this city, one person goes each day to that Baka Rakshasa. Along with the food, that rakshasa eats that person too. Tomorrow tomorrow it is our turn. One person from this house must go there. Other than me, who can go? But if I go, then who will look after them?”

Kunti at once said, “No, no, what are you saying? You will go? Why? I have five sons. One of them will go to Baka Rakshasa. As long as a human goes, that is enough. He does not care which house the person comes from. You stay without worry.”

The Brahmin was shocked. “No, no, that cannot be, it cannot be. You are our guests. We cannot throw you into this danger. Fie, that would be a sin. Great misfortune would fall on us.”

“Revered Brahmin, do not worry at all,” said Kunti. “My sons know sacred chants and powers. No harm will come to them. They will surely go and kill that rakshasa. You only arrange whatever else is needed. But I ask one thing of you, no one in Ekachakra must come to know about my sons. You must keep the real truth secret.”

The Brahmin bowed his head. “Very well, lady, it shall be as you say.”

Receiving such a great assurance from Kunti, the Brahmin’s family felt as if they could breathe again. They were very happy.

But when Yudhishthira returned home after begging and heard all this from his mother’s mouth, he became very worried. He simply could not accept what Mother Kunti had promised that Brahmin family.

“Mother, what have you said? Who will go now to fight that rakshasa?”

“Bhima will go,” Kunti answered. “I have thought of Bhima.”

“Bhima? Yes? Mother, have you thought carefully before saying this? It is because Bhima is with us that Duryodhana has not been able to kill us till today. It is because Bhima is here that we can leave you at home and go out without worry. No enemy even dares to raise his eyes toward us. And you want to give up that Bhima?”

Kunti said, “I do not want to give him up, son. I want to kill that rakshasa and free this city from danger. This city, this Brahmin family, they have given us shelter. It is the duty of one who has received shelter to return help to the one who gave it. I know that nothing will happen to Bhima. He alone can go and kill that rakshasa. I have that much faith in Bhima’s strength.”

Bhima at once spoke up. “You have spoken rightly, Mother. I alone will go and kill that Baka Rakshasa. Tomorrow I myself will take his food and go. Elder brother, do not worry. That rakshasa will not be able to scratch even my skin.”

Yudhishthira sighed. “What more can I say against what Mother commands? May God help you, younger brother. Go carefully.”

Kunti blessed him. “Blessings on you, child.”

The next morning Bhima set out toward the rakshasa’s den with a large amount of food and two buffaloes for Baka Rakshasa. It took quite some time to reach the cave on top of the hill. After so much effort, Bhima became very hungry too.

Calling out Baka Rakshasa’s name once, Bhima began eating the food that had been brought for him.

By then, smelling the food, Baka Rakshasa had already come out of the cave. Huge was his body, enormous his weight, and when he spoke, the whole hill seemed to shake.

“Who are you? You sit here and eat my food yourself? Have you no fear for your life? Do you know who I am? I am Baka Rakshasa. Humans like you tremble before me. And you you are still eating? Will you not stop? Wait, wait, I will show you now.”

Blind with anger, Baka Rakshasa lifted a huge tree from the front and threw it at Bhima. The tree struck hard on Bhima’s back. But Bhima, like a man brushing an insect from his body, pushed the tree aside with his hand, calmly finished eating, washed his hands and mouth, and gave a satisfied burp.

By then the wild Baka Rakshasa was rushing toward him with great force. His body seemed to have swollen to twice its size.

“You are only a mere human, and yet such great pride? You have come into my own place and insulted me? I will kill you this very moment. Today you will go into the belly of Baka Rakshasa. After that I will destroy all of Ekachakra. Laugh now, laugh now, only a few moments of your time are left. I will not leave here without killing you today. I will crush you like an insect, then then leave you at the gate of Ekachakra city. What did you say? Yes, what did you say?”

As soon as Baka came close, Bhima leaped upon him, threw the rakshasa to the ground, and sat on his chest.

“You will kill me? You will kill Bhima? No, now die yourself.”

Then Bhima seized the rakshasa’s throat with both hands. With a scream that seemed to split the mountain, Baka Rakshasa died there on the spot.

Bhima lifted the body on his shoulder and, in the darkness of night, left it at the gate of Ekachakra. Then he returned to Mother Kunti and his brothers.

The next morning, when the people of Ekachakra saw the dead body of Baka Rakshasa, their joy knew no limit.

But after the killing of Baka Rakshasa, the five Pandavas no longer felt it wise to stay in Ekachakra. If word of this strange event reached Hastinapur through people’s talk, then it would not be difficult at all for Duryodhana to understand the truth. Then the danger would grow even more.

So they wished to leave Ekachakra as quickly as possible. But they could not go anywhere without the word of me, Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa. Therefore they waited eagerly for my permission.

And during this time of waiting, they heard the most important news of their lives. Now a new chapter of their life would begin.