The Pandavas and their mother Kunti had to live outside their own kingdom for many years. Once while going from place to place, they reached a quite village. There they stayed in the house o a villager. The villager and his family were nice to them.

The Pandavas noticed that the people in the village did not laugh or talk much. They seemed to be find to be afraid someone.

One evening when the Pandavas were away, Kunti heard someone crying inside the house. She went into find what the matter was.

The lady of the house told her that a terrible demon lived in a forest beyond the village. His name was Bakasura. He killed many people from the village. So one day the village headman went to demon. He requested him not kill the villagers and promised to send a cartload of food and one person for him everyday. The demon agreed to this request. Since then, someone from the village had been taking a cartload of food to the demon everyday. And the demon gobbled up both the man and the food.

``Tomorrow it is my son’s turn to go to him,’’ said the woman and started weeping again.

``Stop weeping,’’ Kunti said, ``I am sure that my son Bheema can help you. He will go in place of your son’’.

But the woman would not listen to this. ``Oh no! I cannot let your son die for us. You are our guests.’’

``Do not afraid,’’ Kunti smiled slowly. ``my son Bheema has killed demons before. He will come back safe.’’

When the Pandavas retuned home, Kunti told them about the demon and of her promise. Bheema was at once ready to take the food for Bakasura. Early next morning, Bheema left for the pushing the cart loaded with rice, milk, vegetables, fruit and sweets.

When Bheema reached the forest, he did not find Bakasura anywhere. So he sat down in the shade of a tree. Soon he felt hungry and started eating bananas. Within time all the bananas were finished. Then he ate the rice and then the fruit and sweets. When the demon appeared, Bheema had eaten up almost all the food. Bakasura was fierce-looking and had a beak like arcane. He was very angry to see the empty cart.

He came rushing towards Bheema and began to rain blows upon him. ``How dare you’’, he roared’’ how dare you eat my food? I am hungry’’.

``I too was hungry and you were late coming,’’ said Bheema, smiling.

Bakasura bared his teeth and rushed towards Bheema. Bheema was ready. A great fight started. Bakasura threw big trees at Bheema, but Bheema just caught them and threw them away as if they were small twigs. After a long time in the fighting Bheema killed Bakasura and tied to the cart with a rope. Dragging him all the way, he returned to the village.

The villagers could not believe that the demon had been killed.

They thanked Bheema with tears in their eyes. Here was great rejoicing in the village hat night.