KRSNA CONFRONTS THE BAKA DEMON
A demon named Bakasura once came to Vrndavana in the form of a huge crane with a very sharp beak. As soon as he arrived in Vrndavana, he swallowed Krsna. When Balarama and the other boys saw that Krsna had been devoured by the gigantic crane, they became almost unconscious, like senses without life.
Although krsna is always as soft as a lotus, within the throat of Bakasura He created a burning sensation as if He were hotter than fire. And although Krsna’s whole body is sweeter than sugar candy, to Bakasura He tasted extremely bitter. When Krsna is accepted as an enemy, He becomes the most intolerable object for the nondevotee; indeed, a nondevotee cannot tolerate Krsna either within or without.
Krsna became like fire, burning the root of the demon’s throat, and the demon immediately disgorged Him. When the demon saw that Krsna, although having been swallowed, was unharmed, he immediately attacked Krsna again with his sharp beak.
Krsna then took hold of the two halves of Baka’s beak, and in the presence of all the cowherd boys He very easily bifurcated the demon, as a child splits a blade of viranas grass. By killing Bakasura, Krsna delighted the denizens of heaven. They showered Him with mallika-puspa, flowers grown in the heavenly Nandana gardens, and congratulated Him by sounding celestial kettledrums and conch shells and offering prayers. Seeing this, the cowherd boys were struck with wonder.
PAINTING BY JAGAT – KARANA – DEVI DASI (1977)