Picture of Bhima. Source: Wikimedia
Mahabharata The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time, by Krishna Dharma
After Bhima married Hidimbi he went with her and stayed in the mountains to give her a son. After seven months Hidimbi had a son who was a virtuous Raksasa. He grew up unnaturally fast and soon requested that he should leave home to go explore the world. Bhima granted him this wish and soon he would leave with the rest of the Pandavas to continue their quest to combat Duryodhana. After they had left Hidimbi for some time they were approached by a stranger who said he would lead them to a safe place to stay. He led them to the house of a local Brahmin where they were safe from harm and they could care for their mother Kunti. One day Kunti overheard the Brahmin talking with much distress to his family members. The town had apparently made a deal with a Raksasa named Baka that if once a week they would deliver food and a human offering to the Raksasa he wouldn't attack them and would protect them. It was the Brahmin's turn to be an offering next and the family was grieving with their father. Kunti overheard all of this and is swept with emotion. She decides that the Pandavas will do anything to help the Brahmin and his family. She offers an alternative to them that Bhima should go to Baka and take him out for them instead. They are very grateful for the offer and Kunti tell Bhima so he can prepare. The next day Bhima goes to the Raksasa and confronts him. Baka attacks him immediately and Bhima counters every blow. Eventually Bhima grows tired of the fight and kills Baka with one blow. He warns all other Raksasas in the vicinity that they should leave and never devour humans again unless they want to end up like Baka. The Raksasas all flee and the towns people cheer for Bhima. After a little more time had passed and the town had not been attacked again Bhima decided he wanted to go back to Hidimbi. The fight made him realize what was important to him. He told his brothers to just call him whenever he was needed so they could win back their throne. His brothers agreed to Bhima's request and he left them to return to Hidimbi.
Author's Note: I wrote this story based on chapter 1.8 of the Dharma Mahabharata book. I changed the end of the story so that Bhima returned to his wife, which I like better because he just leaves her there in the original story. I also left it open to him helping his brothers when the time comes so he doesn't betray his family with the choice.
