Stories from Lord Krishna’s youth always manage to enthrall children. Such stories always encourage kids to be imaginative and develop an active interest in Indian history. In this article, children will be able to learn about:
The story of Krishna and Bakasura
That when might or strength is exercised with evil intentions, they will not succeed.
This story takes the form of the classic good versus evil arc, and re-emphasizes to children that good or kind intentions generally win. Thus, children will be encouraged to think along those lines.
Introduction to the Krishna and Bakasura Story
This story revolves around Krishna’s battle with Bakasura and tells us when was Bakasura killed. King Kamsa wanted to eliminate Lord Krishna because of a divine prophecy. This meant he sent a line of asuras (demons) after Krishna to kill him. In this story, Kamsa sent Bakasura, who was a large crane after Krishna. This story is an excerpt from Bhagawat, which is essentially a biography of Krishna.
Summary of the Krishna and Bakasura Story in English
One day, in the peaceful village of Gokulam, Yashoda asked her son Krishna to take the cows out to graze with the other cowherds. Everyday, all the cowherds would take their cattle out to a forest near the Yamuna river to bathe them, and allow them to graze. While the cows nourished themselves, the boys would pass time by playing or swimming in the Yamuna too.
One such day, when Krishna was playing with his friends as usual, the cowherds spotted a large and unusual bird flying towards them at great speed. While they stared at the large bird, they identified that it was a large crane. Astonished, they all started to get frightened and tried to run away. However, before they could, the crane swooped in and grabbed Krishna with its beak and swallowed Lord Krishna.
The name of this great beast was Bakasura. He was a demon creature sent by Krishna’s uncle Kamsa to kill him. However, as Bakasura tried to swallow Krishna, he felt fire burning his throat. Unable to take the heat, Bakasura started coughing and finally expelled Krishna from his throat. This was because Krishna was the avatar of Lord Vishnu, and managed to attack the demon by increasing his body temperature to that of a furnace.
Krishna killing Bakasura
Some Morals from the Bakasura Story
This well-known story from lord Krishna’s childhood teaches us that when strength is exercised without good intentions, they will usually be faced with defeat. It also teaches children not to hurt or injure other people.
Note to Parents
Stories about Krishna’s feats as a little boy are excellent sources of moral education for children. Parents are encouraged to relate the stories of Krishna’s boyhood to the child’s everyday life, and encourage them to think with kinder perspectives. Children are at a very impressionable age, so parents should also expose their kids to more stories from the Bhagawat (the story of Lord Krishna) to create a strong moral framework for them.
Conclusion
After being released from the demon’s grip, Krishna grasped the upper beak of the giant crane and stood on the lower beak, and stretched to bifurcate the crane. As he tore Bakasura apart, the crane put up some struggle. However, Krishna managed to overpower the crane and killed him as easily. All the other cowherds released a huge sigh of relief, and started celebrating Krishna’s success at defeating the demon.
FAQs on The Bakasura Story in English for Kids
1.Why did King Kamsa want to kill Krishna?
King Kamsa was the ruler of Mathura. After the wedding of his sister Devaki to Vasudeva, he heard a divine prophecy predicting his death at the hands of his sister’s children. Fearful of his death, Kamsa locked up his sister Devaki, and swore to eliminate all of her children.
2.Why did Bakasura agree to Kamsa’s demands?
Bakasura was a friend of King Kamsa. He was also the brother of Putana. Putana was sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna when he was a baby. However, as Krishna killed her, Bakasura also wanted to avenge his sister’s death.
3.What kind of creature was Bakasura?
Bakasura was an asura (monster) who took the form of a giant crane.
Stories from Lord Krishna’s youth always manage to enthrall children. Such stories always encourage kids to be imaginative and develop an active interest in Indian history. In this article, children will be able to learn about:
The story of Krishna and Bakasura
That when might or strength is exercised with evil intentions, they will not succeed.
This story takes the form of the classic good versus evil arc, and re-emphasizes to children that good or kind intentions generally win. Thus, children will be encouraged to think along those lines.
