Strap in as this episode of Mahabharata tells a tale seemingly straight out of a superhero comic book.
The Pandavas seek to put some distance between themselves and Hastinapur so that they aren’t recognized, complicating matters. They disguise themselves as Brahmins and take shelter in a village whose name translates to “One Circular Town”. Kunti and all Pandavas except Bhim live as guests in the resident Brahmin’s house and beg for alms to sustain themselves. Bhim is busy impregnating his new wife Hidimba. However, demonesses seem to have shorter pregnancies than humans so it isn’t long before a son is born to them. Bhim takes his leave, stating that his mother and brother need him a lot more than his wife and son do for now.
When Bhim arrives in “One Circular Town” and reunites with his brothers, they are overjoyed to have him back. However, they hear their hostess wailing in despair. Upon questioning her, Kunti finds out that a demon called Bakasur conquered this village by sending its erstwhile king scurrying away in fear. Bakasur agreed to not destroy the village outright if its denizens send him a cart full of food along with a human to eat every week. And now it is the turn of the Brahmin hosting the Pandavas to be sent to Bakasur as tribute.
Kunti sends Bhim instead to kill Bakasur. After all, he did defeat one demon already. Bhim goes, pretending to be the human offered as a meal. Upon reaching Bakasur’s cave, Bhim gorges himself on all the other food sent to Bakasur. A hungry Bakasur emerges - and the fight is on!
Tropes found here are
- But Now I Must Go: Bhim must leave Hidimba and his newborn son, as he must join his brothers in the fight against the Kauravas. At the end of this episode, the Pandavas and Kunti leave the village they just saved, before someone recognizes them.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Bhim rips the horns right out of Bakasur’s head and then stabs the demon’s heart with them, killing him.
- Dirty Coward: Apparently the king who used to rule over this village, fled and abandoned it rather than face Bakasur.
- Food End: Looks like this episode is going to end with a huge feast to celebrate Bakasur’s vanquishment, but the Pandavas leave before this feast draws the wrong kind of attention to them.
- Horned Humanoid / Horns of Villainy: Bakasur has them. They are ripped out of him and are used to stab him to death.
- Human Sacrifice / I Am a Humanitarian: Bakasur demands that a village send him one human every week to eat.
- Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: “Wait for me to finish eating this sweet, Bakasur!”
