The story of Bakasura happens during the time just after the Pandavas escape the house of lac. The Pandavas stay in the house of a brahmin at Ekachakrapura, dressed as brahmins themselves, and used to go begging for alms everyday. They used to bring back the alms and Kunti used to distribute the alms between the brothers and herself (after giving half the alms to Bhima 😆).
The demon Bakasura used to live near Ekachakra, and he used to terrorise the town. The citizens had then come to an agreement with him, that they would send a cartload of food to him everyday along with a person from a specified household. The person and the cartload of food would be eaten. On that particular day, the brahmin's family was selected, and the members of the family were deciding who should be sent to Bakasura. Hearing their lamentations and tears, Kunti suggests to the family that her son Bhima could be sent on behalf of the family to Bakasura.
Bhima goes with the food to Bakasura, and as he is waiting for the demon, he eats up all the food. Bakasura gets angry seeing him eating the food that was meant for him and attacks him. They have a fight in which Bhima finally kills him, and frees Ekachakrapura from his oppression.
It is after this that they set out for Panchala for Draupadi's swayamvara. 😊
In fact Kirmira, who is Bakasura's brother, is a demon who attacks the Pandavas as soon as they begin their 12 year exile in the forest, to take revenge for Bakasura's death. He is also killed by Bhima. The story of his killing is narrated by Vidura to Dhritarashtra.
Edited by archanan14 - 11 years ago