Pastimes of Shrivasa Thakura(Shrivasa Angan)

That person who was the Vyasa of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes—Shrimad Vrindavan Das Thakura—speaks of Shrivas Pandit in his Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata:
"In Navadwip Dham lived the holy Pandit Shri Shrivas,
And at his temple Caitanya performed his sweet vilas.
Srivas and his brothers always sang the holy name,
And did their Krishna-puja and Ganges bath three times a day."
Shrivas, Shrirama, Shripati and Shrinidhi were four brothers. They used to live in Shri Hatta, but after some time they moved to Navadwip Dham and lived there. The four brothers used to go to the house of Advaita Acharya to listen to the Bhagavatam class, to perform Nam-sankirtan, and to participate in different Vaishnava activities. They were all great friends with Shri Jagannatha Mishra, the father of Shri Chaitanya. The four of them used to love to hear the Bhagavatam and perform sankirtan together. As a result of their devotion, they could understand that Shri Krishna Himself would soon appear in the house of Jagannatha Mishra. Shrivas Pandit's wife was Malinidevi. She was the contant friend of Sachidevi and the two of them would derive great satisfaction in one another's company.
Seeing the terrible situation of the living entities in Kaliyuga, the devotees were greatly distressed, and, in order to deliver the fallen souls, began to pray for the appearance of God Himself. The Lord heard the prayers of his devotees. In 1407 Saka era, in the month of Phalguana, on the full moon night Shri Hari Himself advented in the home of Jagannatha Mishra in Mayapura. With his appearance in this world, everything became auspicious. The world was filled with the holy name. When Shri Advaita, who came from Shantipura, could understand that Shri Hari himself had appeared, he went to Shrivasa and all the other devotees and made them understand as well the importance of His divine appearance. Shrivas Pandit's wife Malini was devoted to Sachidevi and took care of her like a personal nurse. Shrivas Pandit was constantly at the house of Jagannatha Mishra; it was as if he was Jagannatha Mishra's shadow.
What the Supreme Lord may do from one moment to the next even he himself may not know; how than can anyone else understand his movements? At the time of Mahaprabhu's childhood, he exhibited many supernatural pastimes, but being bewildered by the Lord's Yogamaya potency, the devotees could not understand them. At the time of his advent all the hearts of the devotees were filled with parental affection. Shrivas Pandita and Malini Devi, in nurturing and raising up the darling boy of Shachi Devi and Jagannatha Mishra gave him instruction on many subjects. And so, Shri Gaurasundara came to accept Shrivasa Pandit and Malini Devi as a second mother and father.
One day, during the time of Mahaprabhu's impudent schoolboy pranks and his pastimes of scholarship, Shrivasa Pandit came to the boy and instructed him as follows: "Why do people study? What do they really want to know and understand? What is the true object of knowledge? Krishna and Krishna-bhakti. For if one studies so many subjects, but has no understanding of Krishna, all his learning is useless. You are reading and studying and hearing so many lectures on different subjects. But you should perform Krishna-bhajan and apply your intelligence to that." Hearing this, mahaprabhu smiled and said, "By your mercy it shall certainly come to pass. By your mercy I shall certainly attain Krishna bhakti."
At length, Mahaprabhu, having gone to the holy city of Gaya where He accepted mantra initiation from Ishvara Puri, began to play the role for which he had come to this world. He began to manifest prema-bhakti within this world. One day, Mahaprabhu, manifesting his mood of the Supreme Controller, God Himself, came to the house of Shrivas Thakura and spoke as follows: "To whom have you performed worship? On whom have you meditated? Now see Him! Look upon the object of your worship! Shirvasa! Who have you worshipped? Look directly upon Him whom you have worshipped." Saying these words, Mahaprabhu entered the Deity room of Vishnu and boldly sat upon the altar, manifesting a four-armed form with conch, lotus, club, and chakra. Upon seeing Chaitanya Mahparabhu in this divine form, Shrivas Pandit was shocked and paralyzed with wonder.
At that time the Lord told Shrivas, "I have heard your loud Sankirtan and Advaita's roaring of the holy name of Krishna! And hearing their calls I have left Vaikuntha and appeared here in this material world with my eternal associates. I have come to punish the wicked and deliver the saintly. If you want to become fearless perform my sankirtan. Listening to these fearless words of Mahaprabhu Shrivasa Pandit fell to the earth offering his prostrated obeisances and recited the following prayers:
"Unto the lotus feet of Shri Chaitanya Vishvambhara
(whose dress is like a yellow cloud) I make my namaskara.
I bow before that Krishna (who is mother Sachi's son)
Bedecked with gunja-mala and peacock plume, bright as the sun,
Bright as a million moons whose cooling rays eclipse the stars;
To Ganga Das Pandit's Nimai, a hundred namaskaras.
With horn of buffalo, and cowherd stick, and bamboo flute,
Lord Krishna played, and you are He, the Godhead, Supreme Truth.
The Vedas sing the glories of Krishna—Nanda Kumara;
And thou art he, and so before your feet, my namaskara.

My birth and work have reached complete fulfillment here today.
My life has dawned anew, auspiciousness is mine today.
My ancestors have surely found salvation on this day.
My home and wealth have reached their true perfection on this day.
My fortune knows no earthly bounds upon this holy day—
The blissful vision of your holy feet blessed me today."
In this way, Shrivasa offered different prayers and hymns. Shri Chaitanya Maharpabhu was very kind to Shrivas, and within the house of Shrivasa he gave darshan of his divine form to all his eternal associates and devotees. When Shrivasa Pandit's niece Narayani came before him, Mahaprabhu, upon seeing her, said, "Narayani, chant Krishna, Krishna!" Chaitanya Bhagvata records, "Although she was only a four year old girl, her behavior was unusual. Chanting "Krishna, Krishna!" again and again, she fell on the ground stunned in ecstasy with tears in her eyes."
The little girl, Narayani, was stunned in ecstasy and chanted Krishna again and again with tears in her eyes. Seeing her tears of ecstasy, Shrivasa Pandit's wife as well as all the other devotees also cried tears of ecstasy. As a consequence, Shrivasa Angana was filled with a wonderful and beautiful impression of Krishna-prema.
In the house of Shrivasa there was a maidservant named Dukhi (unhappy). Every day she would bring water to bathe Mahaprabhu. One day the Lord asked Shrivasa, "Who is bringing this water?" Shrivasa said, "Dukhi is bringing the water." The Lord said, "From now own her name will be Sukhi (happy). Since she is engaged in service to Bhagavan and the Vaishnavas, she cannot be Dukhi (unhappy). She must be Sukhi (happy).
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu performed many different pastimes in the house of Shrivasa. Gradually, Nityananda Prabhu came to Nabadwip dham and met Shri Chaitanya. In the company of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began performing different Sankirtana pastimes. Their Sankirtana headquarters was Shrivas Angan. Shri Nityananda Prabhu Himself personally resided at Shrivasa Angan, and Shri Malini Devi, the wife of Shrivasa served Him as if he were her very own son. Nityananda Prabhu is Baladev Himself. He used to perform the pastimes of an avadhuta. He would dwell in the plane of Krishna prema, always overwhelmed by divine ecstasy. He was never burdened by any consideration of bodily ornamentation. Thus he was known as an avadhuta.
One day, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, along with his personal expansions and eternal associates, went to the house of Shrivasa to perform Sankirtan and dance. At that time the only son of Shrivasa became stricken with some unusual ailment and passed away. Within the ladies chambers all the women were crying and lamenting with great sobs and weeping and wailing. Shrivasa Pandit, understanding everything, entered into the ladies chambers. There he saw that his son had passed away, returning to the spiritual abode. With supreme gravity, this great knower of divine truth consoled the women. "You all know the glories of Krishna," he said, "Therefore, please don't cry. Check your tears. Even a great sinner who hears the holy name at the time of death attains the divine abode of Krishna. That very Krishna Himself—whose glories are sung by his servants like Brahma and Shiva—is dancing among you. It is certain, therefore, that this boy has returned to the Lord's supreme abode. Why then should there be any cause for lamentation. At this time you should rather honor this boy as one who was blessed with the supreme good fortune of attaining the ultimate goal of life."
In this way, Shrivasa Thakura, after giving many different instructions on divine truth to the ladies, finally said, "If you are unable to check your family sentiment and stop crying right now, I will give you good reason to cry later. At this moment, Shri Gaurasundara, the Lord of Gokula Himself, is performing sankirtan with his devotees in my house. If by your crying you disturb his happiness for one moment, then I shall immediately go jump in the Ganges and give up my life by drowning!"
"It is by Krishna's will alone that every blade of grass moves. Nothing comes to pass without his will. Whatever we may imagine to be good, bad, knowledge, or ignorance is all his will. Knowing whatever Krishna wants to be divine good, reject your own desires as so much useless garbage. Lord Krishna gives, and Krishna takes away. Krishna protects and nurtures all. Krishna gives life and takes it away according to his will. According to his will everything lives and dies. To contradict the will of God will be a useless attempt. It will only bring sorrow. Therefore, giving up all your lamentation, listen to the holy name of Krishna; by doing so you will attain the highest ecstasy and completely fulfill your heart's desire.
After giving all these instructions, Shrivasa Thakura went outside and rejoined the great kirtan of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in which the Lord was absorbed in singing the holy name of Krishna and dancing. Leaving the thought of their dead child behind, the ladies listened to the kirtan of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this way the kirtan continued until late at night. The sankirtan gradually came to an end and everyone rested. At that time Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Today within my mind I felt that some great sorrow has struck this house." Shrivasa Pandit said, "O my Lord, how can there be any sorrow here? You have brought the highest delight to this house by the sweet kirtan that has emanated from your lotus mouth."
The Lord said, "Shrivasa, how is it that there was no ananda in the kirtan today? Has something inauspicious befallen your family?" Shrivasa said, "O my Lord! You are all-auspicious. As long as you are present here how can anything inauspicious take place? At last the devotees came to know that Shrivasa Thakur's only son had just died.
Upon hearing this, Lord Gauranga cried, "Alas, alas! The thought of this great tragedy pains me worse than death. Why did you not tell me of this most unfortunate event?" At this, Shrivasa Pandit said, "Hear me, O Lord; I could not break the flow of your rasa-kirtan. A body died, O Lord, what need is there for sorrow? If everyone in the universe had died, I would still experience the greatest happiness just by looking upon You. If I had broken the flow of your kirtan and stopped you from dancing, taht would have been a fate worse than death. And so I did not want to disturb your kirtan, for fear of the great disaster that would have taken place as a result of such ugly talk."
Seeing such deep determination in Shrivasa Thakura, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began to weep. He said, "Not knowing of this lamentation for the son of Shrivasa, but bewildered by the ecstasy of Krishna-prema, how could I renounce such association?" Hearing these words, everyone thought deeply within themselves.
After this, Mahaprabhu went to the place where the dead child lay and touched him, saying, "O boy! Why did you renounce Shrivasa Pandit and go away?" At his touch, life returned to the boy and, after offering obeisances to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the boy said, "O my Lord! You are the creator and destroyer of everything. You give life and take it away. You are the Supreme Lord of all. Nothing can be done without your decree. As long as it is decreed by you, one can stay here; when you decree, they can no longer remain. When your sanction for our short stay on earth is removed we must move on. O Lord. Many times I have taken birth, and many times I have died. But this time is different. This time I died while having darshan of your beautiful lotus feet, and so I have left this earth in complete happiness."
Saying this, the boy fell silent, having satisfied the inquiry of Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Hearing this unprecedented discourse from the mouth of the dead child, everyone was astonished and all the devotees floated in the waves of the ocean of bliss. In this way, beholding the wondrous pastimes of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shrivasa Pandit fell before the lotus feet of the Lord and wept tears of ecstasy. Whereupon Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Nityananda and I are your two sons. Always think of this and you will never experience the sorrow of having lost a son. Nityananda and I are your sons. Therefore why should you lament?" Hearing these words of mercy, the devotees filled the four directions with cries of joy. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Shri Nityananda Prabhu were indebted to Shrivasa on account of his devotion and service. This is proof that The Lord becomes indebted to his devotees.
When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa Shrivasa Pandit returned to Kumara Hatta and lived there. Now and then he and his brothers would go to Jagannatha Puri to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Sometimes he would go to Nabadwipa-Mayapura to see Sachidevi, and at that time he would stay in his house there for a few days.
When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Bengal from Jagannatha Puri after five years of his sannyasa, he would take darshan of Sachimata and the Ganges he went by Kumarhatta and visited the house of Shrivasa Thakura there. Chaitanya Bhagavata says, "After staying for a few days at the house of Advaita, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited the home and temple of Shrivasa. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave Shrivasa a boon, saying, "There shall never be any poverty or shortage in your home." Shrivasa Pandit with his three brothers always served Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with great happiness. Shrivasa Pandit is the avatara of Narada Muni. He is a constant associate of the Lord who is plays a role in all of the Lord's important pastimes.

Pastime at Panihatti(Chida Dahi Mahotsava)

Lets celebrate Chida Dahi Mahotsava by recollecting the pastime that took place at Panihatti, loving exchange between Lord Nityananda and Raghunatha Das Goswami. Also we have added the RECIPE for the same if any one would like to taste the nectar.

In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with Nityananda Prabhu who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants and others. Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityananda seemed as effulgent as hundreds and thousands of rising suns. Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa was astonished. Raghunatha dasa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunatha dasa, offering You obeisances."
Hearing this, Lord Nityananda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you," the Lord called him, but Raghunatha dasa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head. "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.
Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk. sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and ether eatables and placed them all around. As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people. Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round pots. He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lard Nityananda.
In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas. The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as canpa-kala. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added. After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth far a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.
On that platform all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as well as ether important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord. Among them were Ramadasa, Sundarananda, Gadadhara dasa, Murari, Kamalakara, Sadasiva and Purandara. Dhananjaya, Jagadisa, Paramesvara dasa, Mahesa, Gauridas and Hoda Krsnadasa were also there, Similarly, Uddharana Datta Thakura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityananda Prabhu. No one could count them all.
Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas and priests went there, Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him. Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk and in the ether chipped rice with yogurt. All the other People sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were. Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots, one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.
Some of the brahmanas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there. Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice. Thus some sat on the platform ,some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.
At that time, Raghava Pandita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise. He brought many other kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered them to the Lord. This prasada he first placed before Lord Nityananda and then distributed among the devotees. Raghava Pandita said to Lord Nityananda, "For You, sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."
Lord Nityananda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night. I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river. Lord Nityananda made Raghava Pandita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.
When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityananda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived, Lord Nityananda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk. From each and every pot, Lord Nityananda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a joke. In this way Lord Nityananda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaisnavas standing there were seeing the fun.
No one could understand what Nityananda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also present. Then Nityananda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy. Lord Nityananda offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a place and had Him sit dawn. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice. Seeing Cord Caitanya Mahaprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityananda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love. Lord Nityananda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari. Immediately the holy names "Hari Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.
When all the Vaisnavas were chanting the holy names "Hari Hari" and eating, they remembered how Krsna and Balarama ate with their companions, the cowherd boys, on the bank of the Yamuna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunatha dasa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings. Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges. All the confidential devotees who were Cowherd boys, headed by Sri Ramadas, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamuna.
When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas. As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunatha dasa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food. Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas. After Lord Nityananda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunatha dasa the food remaining in the four pots. There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityananda, and a brahmana distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each. Then a brahmanas brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityananda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp All over His body, When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityananda, the Lord smiled and chewed them. With His own hands Lord Nityananda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained
After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates. Thus have I described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.
RECIPE
Chida-Dadhi Pots
Clay pots (or halved small coconuts), 2 per personBanana Leaves, As neededChipped Rice (chida), 8 CupsMilk, 1 GallonHeavy Cream, 1 PintYoghurt (dadhi), 2-1/2 Quarts (10 Cups) Sugar, 7 CupsBananas, just ripe, 15Ghee, 4 TablespoonsCamphor, Two PinchesNutmeg, powder, 1/8 TeaspoonCinnamon, powder, 1/8 TeaspoonCardamom, 1/4 Teaspoon
Clay pots can be gotten at many Indian grocery stores today. Most are meant for puja, so they’re not necessarily ‘food grade’. If needed, you can lightly steam banana leaves to make them pliant, then shape them so they fit nicely as liners in the clay pots. This is particularly helpful if a lot of time will elapse between arranging the chida-dadhi bowls and offering them. If clay pots aren’t available, you can use small coconut shells that have been halved. Shave a little slice off the bottom so they’ll sit flat.
Heat the milk in a heavy bottom pot, then add the chip rice. Let it soak just long enough to soften, but don’t let it get mushy or begin to break down. Pour the pot contents through a fine sieve, separating the rice out and setting aside. Put the milk back in the pot, add the heavy cream, and continue cooking at a low boil until the volume of milk is reduced to the desired consistency (1/2 to 1/3 the original volume). When the kheer is ready, and just before offering, divide the chip rice into two portions. Blend the sugar, ground nutmeg and cinnamon well with the yoghurt. Thin slice half the bananas and fold gently into yoghurt. Add ½ the rice to yoghurt and put in pots, ready to offer. Mix the ghee, sugar, cardamom and camphor into the kheer. Thin slice the remaining bananas and gently fold into the kheer. Put in clay pots and offer.

Pandavas at Ekachakra

On the most auspicious occasion of Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi, what best we can do then to remember them(the Pandavas) and that too in Ekachara(Birthplace of Nityanand Prabhu). In this small effort we are putting a small pastime that took place at Ekachakra, we might even visit Ekachakra during our yatra.

This pastime took place during the exile of the Pandavas.

The Pandavas and their mother, Kunti, wandered about the country in disguise. After some time they reached a city called Ekachakra. There they stayed in a brahmin's house. Brahmin and his wife treated them with kindness. Kunti discovered that the brahmin and his wife were in deep sorrow. She wanted to find out what the trouble was, and she asked the brahmin's wife about it.
"There is nothing we can tell you," was the answer.
"But" Kunti said, "I see that great grief is eating your heart. Tell me what is the matter."
The woman said, "We have our own sorrow. It is not proper to tell our guests about it."
"Please tell me what it is so that I may share your sorrow with you," said Kunti.
"No, you are our honored guest. We must not make you feel unhappy," the brahmin's wife replied.
"If you will not tell me what it is, we shall go away from here and stay somewhere else," Kunti answered.
Brahmin's wife sat silent for a time. Then with tears in her eyes she began to tell the story of their grief "Beyond the mountains, some miles giant lives in a big cave. His name is Baka, or Bakasura, as people call him. He used to come down to the villages and take away men, women, and cattle and eat them up.
"Our King tried to fight the giant with a big army. But Bakasura was very strong. He defeated the King and his army. The King fled to save his life, so the people had to face the giant. We then decided to make peace with him. Bakasura agreed not to come down from the mountain if we sent him every day a cart-load of cooked food. Bakasura eats the food, the bullocks, and the human being as well. We have kept our promised.
"Every day one persons is chosen by lot and sent with the cart-load of food. It is our bad luck that our turn has now come. Tomorrow our family has to send a man with Bakasura's food. We are a small family; my husband, our only son, and myself. We do not know who should go. Each one of us would like to go for the sake of the other two." As she ended her story the Brahmin's wife burst into tears.
Kunti tried to comfort her. She said, "you have only one son, but I have five. I shall send one of my sons instead of one of you."
"Oh, no, no," cried the poor woman. " You are our guests and we shall never allow own son and bear the sorrow."
Kunti only smiled in reply. She called all her sons to her and told them of the danger facing the brahmin's family. " I think you, Bhima, can take the food to the giant tomorrow morning," she said.
" I?" said Bhima. "You don't like me, mother ; so you send me to be killed by the giant!"
The Brahmin woman protested. She said she would not allow any of Kunti's children to be killed. Bhima laughed and told her that he was only joking.

"As a matter of fact," he said, "I want to go and see this giant myself. You know I am a strong man. I shall meet the giant and I shall come back again."
It took a long time for Kunti to make the Brahmin and his wife believe that Bhima would defeat the giant if he were allowed to go. At last they agreed.
Early the next morning Bhima set out, riding in a cart filled with food and driven by two fat bullocks. It was a long way to the mountain, but Bhima was on in hurry. When he reached the mountain, the giant was shouting. He was very angry because the food was late.
Bhima stopped some distance away from the giant. He unyoked the bullocks and then quietly unpacked the bundles of food. He sat down and began to eat what he had brought for the giant.
The giant roared in anger. Bhima told him that he was only making the giant's work easier. The giant could eat him with all the food inside.
Bakasura now became even angrier. He took a huge rock and ran towards Bhima pulled up a tree to use as a club. When the giant came near, Bhima hit him with the tree.
A big battle began. Bhima fought with the giant giving blow for blow. At last he killed the giant. The giant lay like a huge hill.
Bhima returned to the city in the evening and all the people gathered to thank him for saving their lives from Bakasura.