It
was a normal day of their wanwaas in dandakaranya. All they were waitng for the
messanger. A messenger from the only person they could trust. Their god, their
cousin Sri Krishna. Arjuna was his devotee, so was Bheem. Bheem had one clear
thing in his mind and brain, his day and night and his life and death, follow
Krishna’s suggestion. It was like an order for him from god.
Today
it was sahadew’s turn to keep an eye for the messenger. As per his last
message, Krishna was now going to give them some safe place to stay and keep
away from Duryodhana’s cunning plans. In all the wanwaas Bheem had taken care
of his body and strength. Unlike Arjuna, who was called ‘Gudakesh’ the master
of his sleep, Bheem couldn’t control his sleep. Krishna had his instructions
very clear to Bheem. “Do not try anything that’s going to decrease your
strength. Eat sleep and do yout routine exercise. Do heavy duty work. You are
the strength of the pandavas. What we need from you is your confidence and
strength.”
Sahadewa
shouted from the tree “Jyeshth, I see some movement in the forest. I see lot of
dust in the air. It is heading towards us.” I see the white flag with golden
eagle on it.” Garuda-dwaj with four horses? Is Krishna himself on the rath?
Till this time Arjun had took off on his horse towards the incoming fleet to
see for any danger.
Bheem
was in the woods; his duty in the morning was to get wooden logs for the night
camp-fire. He too heard the noise and sound of horses. Keeping to his nature
the first thing he thought was of danger. He picked up the grand log he was
cutting held it on his shoulder. In fluid movement reached for his club and
rushed towards their ashrama. He ran through the forest like a bull crashing
everything that came in his way.
By
the time he heard the sound of tender ringing bells, he was very close to the
fleet of the rathas. The moment he heard the bells, he dropped the log. Ran to
the nearby bushes. Grabbed all the flowers that he could and doubled towards
the ashrama.
There
he was, Shri Krishna, standing tall, Arjuna was bowing ahead in veerasaan, nakul and sahadew were standing astonished,
Kuntimaata had the aarti in her hands. Everyone had a very happy and excited
expression. But Yudhishthir, he was standing away from all, had mixed
expressions on his face. Some times Bheem thought “does Jyshth really
trusts Krishna? Does he really worships
him by all his heart or he just sees him as an Allay.” Anyways Bheem had his
views pretty much cleared about Krishna,
his God. Now he slowed down as he reached the aashrama fence. In one jump he
landed near krishna’s feet. Kept all his flowers and took some soil near his
feet and said “ Welcome my lord, please accept these flowers and bless us all.
Krishna
had a same smile on his face. “Bheem, get up. It’s not my blessing that you
require. What you require is the
strength and unity among you brothers. With smiles on their faces almost after
an year, pandavas entered the kuti. Krishna was offered the center chair and
all were sitting on concentric circles around him. First of all Krishna gave
them the exact count of days they have been to wanwaas. Then he was set to tell
the plan for next six months.
Pandavas
were now to dress as Brahmans and leave the woods, very near to the woods was a
far boundry of the Hastinapur Empire. The city was known as the Ekchakra
Nagari. They were supposed to enter the city and stay at a Brahmins house.
Krishna had made all the arrangement accordingly. “I wonder one thing how
Krishna has all things ready in his mind, he is really great, really god.” “no
bheemsen, its not because he is god, its because the way he looks at the
things. Do you not see that wherever we have stayed, he had plans for somebody
for us to do some remarkable thing? That’s the way people are going to remember
us, and this will help to get loyal citizens one we get the throne back.” Maate,
you too are brilliant, but for me these things are quite difficult to think”
and with a loud laugh he lifted entered
the kuti.
It
was in the morning when they entered the Ekchakra Nagri. Near the entrance of
the city a wagon full of food passed them. There were two healthy bulls
attached to it and the man sitting on the cart was merely directing them towards
the jungle. Nakul gave a strange look towards all of them. “the animals are
very afraid” he said and so looks the man said kunti. Then they went Devidatt’s
house. It was a warm welcome for them. Though Davidatta didn’t knew who these
seven people were, he was happy with the gold coins he had already received
from a rider.
A
month passed by, Arjuna was very sharp at noticing things. Once after morning
pooja in the village temple he urged Bheem for a walk. “Arjun, what are you
upset for? Did you feel anything wrong? Are we followed by some spy?” “no
Bheem, but I see a strange thing, every week there is a wagon full of food is
going out of this city, but I see none of them coming back and also, when there
is a well constructed road leading towards Hastinapur, why the wagons are going
towards the jungle?” “Hmm, I also noticed this thing, let’s ask devidatta, he
must be knowing something about it.”
When
they reached home they saw Yudhishthir sitting near the stairs. He looked
upset. “jyashth, whats the matter? Why are you upset?” “ Bheem, Arjun yesterday
I went to the market to get something the landlady wanted. There I saw the sale
of slaves, alive people were getting sold and strangely all people of the city
were interested in buying one.” “Jyeshth, I know this is wrong and we will stop
it once you become the king, but we saw this in lot other cities as well, why
are you upset especially now? “my brothers, acting as a learned astrologer I
have visited lots of people in the city, I hardly saw any slave working in the
houses, but if all are buying slaves, WHERE ARE THEY GOING?”
This
was the moment Bheem had waited from a long time to see. Yudhishthir was now
not just living to complete the wanwaas and getting his thtoan back, but he had
started to notice the things happening around them. The brothers decided to
investigate further and then strolled towards devidatta’s house.
When
they entered the house they felt a odd think. There was a pair of bullocks
standing in front of his house. Sahadev with his devotion towards cattle went
near them to have a look, they seemed afraid. Muttering something sahadev
looked for any mark on them for the ownwrship, but none. Standing there he
looked at his brothers. They were also equally interested in the pair of
bullocks. Bheem’s curiosity was on its tip now. Ramming the door he entered the
kuti. Kunti and droupadi were sitting next to devidattas wife who seemed like
cried a lot. Devidatta was standing in a corner holding his kids. Kunti looked
towards all of the brothers, they understood. Quietly they went out of the door
and waited for her there. What she told was horrible.
There
was danger the entire Ek-chakra nagar was facing. Bakasura. An asura was common
thing to be in the villages near to the jungle, but this one was cannibal. He
has a gang of bandits like him. Every month the people of the village had to
give them bounty. A cart full of rive, vegetables, meat and other edibles, a
pair of bullocks, which they ate as fresh meat and one human for the bakasura
himself. The kings soldiers had tried a lot to get rid of Bakasura, but his
immense strength and cruelty was also supported by the unknown parts of jungle.
Pandavas
knew what they was supposed to do. This was a new challenge and they was ready
for it. The only danger was that Duryodhan will surely know thay Pandavas are
in Ekchakra nagri and he will start to trouble them more. But Bheem was a
kshariya. Devidatta had given them Aashraya when they needed it and now it was
their turn to pay back.
Arjuna
was the first one to speak, “Maate, I have understood what I am supposed to do.
I will take my bow and finish of that asura. He is no match for the astras I
have.” “Well said”, said kunti. But Bheem seemed to be lost in thoughts. Whats
the matter Bheem, don’t you agree with us? Asked arjuna. “Arjun, I agree that
we need to kill the asura and make devidatta free from trouble, but doing so we
are also going to make an impression on the citizens of the ekchakra nagar. Its
possible that some of the bandits may also get loyal to us. This needs to be
big display of power, not of the astras, I Bheem take vow, I will kill that
asura and bring peace to this city.” Saying so he turned toward Kunti. “Maate, now
its up to your skills to convince devidatta to send me in his place.” With a
smile she went in house.
After
a long time she came out with smile on her face. She went near Bheem,”
devidatta is ready to let you go, but now he knows who we really are, he has
sworn to keep it upto himself.
By
next morning the cart was ready to leave. People had gathered around devidattas
house to bid him farewell. They were surprised to see that he was actually
sending one of his guest to Bakasura. Bheem bowed to Yudhishtra, took blessings
from Kunti, looked very confidently towards his other brothers and left with
the cart.
By
the time he reached the jungle it was noon. Bheem had a clear plan in his mind,
he was going to find bksura, challenge him for a fight and then.. well then
kill him. All of a sudden two people dressed in black dhoti jumped in front of
the cart. They had a good look at Bheem and the cart and then pointed to the
direction he was supposed to go. Bheem quietly followed the path. He came
across a small plain in the jungle. Some human bones and sculls were lying in
the dust. This made Bheem more angry. Also it was quiet far from the town,
Bheem was hungry. He decided to get bakasura there. Jumping out of the cart he
set the bulls free. Took out the food and started eating. He was sure he was
being watched. Gladly he ate a lot of food from the cart. This was a very new
experience for the bakasura’s men who kept the watch. Normally people used to
be afraid and try to run. Then they would capture him and take to bakasura, who
finished the rest of the job. Surprised, they informed bakasura what was going
on.
Furious
bakasura came out of his cave. Tall and healthy he was, has hair on his entire
body. He was wearing a necklace made from human bones and sculls. He shouted
some slangs towards Bheem and threatened to kill. Bheem just gave him a look
and continued eating. bakasura ran at him threw some punches on his back. But
Bheem was faar to strong for these punches. Without even looking at him, Bheem
continued to eat. Bakasura was surprised and now very much angry. He orderd his
bandits to kill Bheem. Like he was waiting for this moment Bheem rose to his
full height. Took the empty vessal he was eating and banged hard on the face of
the first on e who attacked him. howling in pain the bandit dropped dead. In
matter of minutes ten bandits were lying dead. Others then ran away towards
their leader. Pointing his finger to bakasura Bheem roared, “you have killed enough people. This time you die
and all those who have suffered because of you will get justice.” This was
enough to get bakasura angry enough to get straight on to Bheem.
Bakasura
grabbed a club laying around and charged on Bheem. Bheem too moved towards the
cart. Rtook out his ‘gada’ and waited for his enemy. For fifteen minutes Bheem
was just locking the strong blows. Bakasura’s club finally gave up on Bheem’s
gada. He threw the club and challenged Bheem for the fist fight. Bheem wanted
this, his favorite malla-vidya. They banged their heads at one other’s clung to
each other’s necks and tried to check each others strength. The asura was
strong. Not only this he had cruel intensions in his mind. He was actually
fighting his food. He quickly moved to
Bheem’s backside and lifted Bheem and wanted to bang him in the dust.
But Bheem quickly held the asura by his legs. Brought him down with his
wiehght. Grabbed his hand and tried to knock him out. Bakasura freed himself
from bheems grasp held on to Bheem’s neck and tried to kill him. Bheem already
had gasped enough air that blocking the neck didn’t have any effect on him.
Getting very angry Bheem threw a punch on the asura’s chin. That was the
knockout blow. Blood drained from his face. By the time asura realized he was
hit, another thunder hit him, straight on his nose. He was down. Knocked out by
Bheem. Without wasting a single moment, Bheem sat on the asuara’s back holding
his face down to earth, surrounded asura,s neck with his muscular arm. Slowly increasing the strength
of his hold. This was the ultimate “bahukantak”
Slowly
Bakasura’s gave up the fight. He started to rub his ankles in the dust. In
minutes bakasura was dead.
