Baka Vadha Chapter 5 (161)
Kunti asks the Brahman for Secrecy. Bhima agrees to kill Baka
Intro
Baka parva tells the story of Bhima’s fight with a cannibal named Baka.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/baka
As It Rhymes Chapter 5 (161)
Bhima vows to kill Baka
1-3.
Kunti said,
‘Dismiss your morose mood.
I see a way that the cannibal will decay this very day.
Your boy is a Virgo that practices penance.
His protestors are my five sons - your tenants.
My sons will not stand by while you get served to the rakshasa for dinner.
My sons will demand a sentence from the man-eating sinner.’
4.
The priest (brahman) said,
‘No I will not live diminished.
To one’s own end life is extinguished.
5-6.
Your family is good.
You have knowledge of adharma.
For the Brahman a life of soul stain is dead wood.
If killing a Brahman is a sin then sending your sons to death in my stead stains my head with blood.
7-12.
To kill a brahman is a sin.
Peeling away layers of the onion reveals truth deep within.
People with less intelligence might leap to it.
The idea of killing another makes me vomit.
The source of the brahman is established on austerity.
Peeling away layers I see a wicked deed done to the insignificant small me - a pity.
I renounce my house. I surrender to decree.
Not a beggar nor a wicked killer nor meant to live in disgrace.
I doubt I can do what I must face.
Defamation and wicked karma written on my slate.
Dangers and calamity befall my ancestry.
Better to spend the time I have left with my woman and arrange my affairs for my destruction than to plot against morbid fate.’
13-15.
Kunti said,
‘I regard protection of Brahman the fixed duty of my sons.
The rakshasa will not be able to overcome my son.
My son is built for annihilation.
My son is vital and strong.
My son is brilliant and valiant.
My son knows mantras.
The rakshasa will watch my son drink his milkshake and be stunned.
My son will liberate you from your doom with determination.
That is my opinion on the onion.
16.
Know my son has laid low rakshasas with mighty blows.
My son has accomplished many deeds and whips man-eating fellows.
17.
The plough will turn the soil.
Tell no one about what I disclose after Baka is deposed.
18.
Gurus taught my sons well but they must not be caught.
I taught my sons that they must help saintly people like yourselves no matter what.’
19.
After Kunti spoke, the Brahman’s jaw fell.
The Brahman’s wife felt as though revived from a corpse.
20.
Thereafter Kunti spoke to the son of Anil about what made the Brahman family unwell.
Anger rose in the Kuru as Kunti spoke about the wicked lotto.
Bhima said, ‘Let’s roll.’
Notes
[17-18] At this time the Pandavas live in hiding with their mother Kunti. Their father Pandu is dead. They recently escaped the lac house arson and are believed by their cousin Duryodhana, King Dhritarashtra’s son, to be dead. Dhritarashtra and Pandu are brothers. The Pandavas live hidden, disguised as Brahman hoping to escape detection. Later at Svayamvara the Pandavas will shed their Brahman guise and become Kshatriyas, or warriors. Later still the Pandavas will assume the guise of Vaishyas, or merchants and farmers, for a year in King Virata’s court. For a few moments after the dice game, when Yudhishthira has staked all his brothers and himself, the Pandavas are slaves, or Shudra - to complete the cycle. Through the course of the Mhb. the Pandavas live in all four varnas. The Svayamvara ‘As It Rhymes’ translation is available here. (Look for the ‘As It Rhymes’ Virata soon.)
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/svayamvara
[20] Anil is Vayu. Vayu is the God of wind and one of the Adityas, along with Surya, Varuna, Vishnu and Indra. All the Pandavas are considered the sons of Gods. Bhima is said to be the son of Vayu because of his great strength and speed.