Baka Vadha Chapter 6 (162)
Yudhishthira argues with Kunti about Bhima's task to kill Baka
Foreword
The Mahabharata is the story of the lunar dynasty. The Ramayana is the story of the solar dynasty. The sun is masculine. The moon is feminine. Like that the Ramayana is very masculine. The female characters, Kaiyakee and Sita, respectively, are relatively flat compared to the chest thumping machoism of Rama, Vali and Hanuman. By contrast the Mahabharata has many several strong female characters. It is the women that play pivotal roles in the character arcs of the Pandava men from zeroes to heros. Accordingly in Baka Parva the female character Kunti steps forward to take action. At this time in the story the Pandavas are living the lives of Brahman, on the run. Here Kunti reminds them that they are warriors and born to duty. When Yudhishthira objects on the grounds that the risk they are taking could ruin them, Kunti corrects Yudhishthira and reminds him what is at stake. Later another strong female character, Draupadi, will demonstrate to the Pandavas how to stand up to Duryodhana and the increasingly wayward warriors tilting to the end of the Yuga with adharma.
Intro
Baka Parva is the story of Bhima’s fight with the cannibal rakshasa named Baka.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/baka
As It Rhyme
1.
Vaishampayana said,
“Can do”, Bhima mugged.
The Pandavas hugged Bhima after gathering grub.
2.
Pandu’s son Yudhishthira took his mother Kunti to a secluded place for a clandestine conference.
Yudhishthira felt shook from confidence.
3.
Yudhishthira said,
“What desire to lead Bhima by his sentiment of valor to this deadly deed.
Let it be known to me what Bhima has agreed.”
4.
Kunti said,
“By my word indeed!
Bhima was born a chastiser of the enemy.
Our Brahman host is a great man.
To liberate the Brahman’s hand is a worthy deed.”
5.
Yudhishthira said,
“What have you done?
This deadly adventure with this miscreant is wanton reckless abandon.
You abandon your son.
6.
Sacrificing your best son for another one.
What have you done? Your son will be gone.
The Vedas disapprove of the action you’ve taken.
7.
We sleep in peace because of Bhima’s strength of arm.
The loss of our kingdom will be nothing should Bhima befall harm.
8.
Whose valor gives Duryodhana bouts of ire.
Duryodhana’s remaining nights spent in tosses and turns.
9-10.
Whose valor saved us from house fire burns.
Who killed Purochana for his evil deed.
Who will kill Dhritarashtra’s sons without tire.
11.
Whose intelligent enterprise provides what we need.
Has our misery twisted your good sense?
Have you lost your mind to risk Bhima just to be kind?”
12-13.
Kunti said,
“Yudhishthira, your wits are ignorant of purpose.
Vrikodara’s work sits in front of us.
You live in the Brahman’s home for free.
With Dhritarashtra’s sons ignorant of where you be.
14.
Partha you are stalled by attachment and doubt.
You can’t hear a clear call.
15.
They say it is better to give than take.
I see Bhima’s might born with a great man’s make.
When Vrikodara killed Hidimba bare handed my belief turned to faith.
16.
Bhima’s arms are pythons.
In Varanavata those serpents kept you safe.
17.
Vrikodara’s strength is like the rod of truth.
Bhima fights like a vajra wielding God.
18.
When Bhima was born he fell onto a slab of stone.
Baby Bhima thrashed his limbs and cracked that stone in two like Indra calving a mountain with his vajra.
19.
I am in awe and know the strength of Bhima Pandava.
For him the work of a needy brahman is a move toward truth in deed.
20.
I am not greedy.
I am not deluded in false temptation.
I deserve no censure.
My intelligence is true to Dharma’s adventure.
21.
Yudhishthira there are two gains to be won.
The hand of truth pushed us to live here to test your character.
22.
Who helps the brahman does what must be done.
To kshatriyas auspicious worlds are won.
23.
A kshatriya that saves a man’s life from murder brings fame to their name that does not decay in this world.
24.
Who protects the vaishya’s wealth from the brigand performs the kshatriya’s duty in this world.
One that does their duty earns praise and takes delight in this world.
25.
The King who makes shudra free and shelters the refugee earns a good birth.
That King knows good conduct by the Gods’ decree.
26.
This is what God, Vyasa and Paurava mean to me.”
Chapter 7_preview (163)
Bhima fights Baka
1.
Yudhishthira said,
“You win. I am smarter because of you, Mom.
Your act to remove the brahman’s distress makes me weep.
Your words put my objection that this is sin to sleep.
2.
Bhima will kill Baka I am certain.
The Brahman’s prosperity will keep.
3.
Tell the Brahman he must not breathe a word of us.
They all must grasp the point of a promise to stay mum, trust.”
… to be continued…
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana, Janamejaya ibid.
[4] Brahman is a priest, or ascetic.
[6] Vedas are scripture.
[8] Duryodhana is Dhritarashtra's son. Dhritarashtra is Pandu's brother.
[9] Purochana was the architect that constructed a house made of flammable material (lac) at Duryodhana’s behest. Purochana perished in the house fire.
[14] In this context Partha is Yudhishthira. Partha is an archer.
[15] The story of Hidimba is told in an earlier chapter.
[16] The Pandavas escaped Duryodhana's murder plot by arson in Varanavata when Bhima carried the Pandavas out of a burning house.
[17] Vajra is a lightning bolt. Indra wields the vajra.
[20] Dharma is a moral duty. For a warrior protecting people is core Dharma.
[26] Vyasa is a sage. Paurava is a king respected for wisdom.