________________
G, K, Bhat
victim carried the food collected for the demon and the demon ate it up along with the human victim. Bhima goes to the forest residence of Baka calls him out, and proceeds to eat up the food intended for the demon.
(v) Baka is annoyed and attacks Bhima. The final chapter describes theic fight which ends in the death of Baka.
The Brahmin is grateful for being saved from the jaws of certain death, The people of the city throng to see the huge body of the demon streched in death and wonder about it. The Brahmin explains, according to Kunti's suggestion, that an unknown Brahmin who had great mantra-power and physical prowess took pity on him and accomplished the demon's death? The secret of the Pandavas staying incognito is thus preserved,
The changes that Rāmacandra has done in shaping bis story will now be obvious on this background:
The dramatist does not make a pointed reference to the epic context, as probably unnecessary. But in the opening speeches of Bbjma and Draupadi there is a suggestion of the epic background. Bbima is sad at the thought that they are required to live in a forest, whereas they should have been in a palace. Draupadi is depressed in mind and feels that the Pandavas may not, after all, be able to defeat the Kauravas. These thoughts are completely forgotten in the course of the following dramatic development; and so, the dramatist scems to have used these musiags only as an epic anchor for his story.
The dramatist has changed the entire detail about the Pandavas and the Brahmin family. Kunti and the Brahmin family do not figure in the play. On the contrary, Draupadi who is not mentioned in the Baka-padha episode takes a prominent place in the drama. The detail about the Pändavas having gone out for food is also omitted. In stead, the dramatist shows Bhima taking Draupadi out for a pleasure stroll in the forest, and the other brothers are to follow him in due time. This is a romantic opening fit for love or adventure; and it is artistically conceived to the advantage of the hero.
With the omission of Kunti and the Brahmin family that hosted the Pandavas, the dranatist has to arrange the knowledge about Baka and his practice reaching Bbíma in a different way. This he does by using a plausible coincidence. As Bhima and Draupadi move about in the furest adınicing its luxuriant and impressive charm, they sight a temple priest who narrates the whole tale of Baka. This is a smooth Introduction of the Baka episode and carries with it all the elements of dramatic expectation. Compared to the epic in which the Baka episode is just one incident, the narration here through an improvised new character comes
