Kirmīra
Kirmīra was a powerful rākshasa (a being of the night) who lived in the forests near Kāmyakavana. He was the younger brother of Baka and of Hiḍimba. Bhīma had killed both of them. Kirmīra attacked the Pāṇḍavas as they travelled through the forest at midnight, wanting to take revenge for his brothers. Bhīmasena killed him.
His family
Kirmīra came from a line of powerful rākshasas. His older brothers were Baka and Hiḍimba.
- Baka had set up a reign of terror at the town of Ekacakrā. The Pāṇḍavas stayed there in disguise during their early wanderings.
- Hiḍimba attacked the Pāṇḍavas on their first night in the forest after they escaped from Vāraṇāvata. Bhīma killed him in the Śālavana forest.
Bhīma had killed both Baka and Hiḍimba. So Bhīma was the slayer of all of Kirmīra’s brothers.
The attack at midnight
Kirmīra was a rākshasa of great size and power. He had strong māyā (powers of illusion). He lived in the forests near Kāmyakavana and waited for a chance to take revenge on Bhīma for his brothers.
The Pāṇḍavas were going through this forest at midnight on their way to Kāmyakavana. Kirmīra blocked their path. He stood before them openly, told them who he was, and said that he meant to avenge Baka and Hiḍimba.
The fight
Dhaumya, the family priest, undid Kirmīra’s māyā with his mantras and his tapas-bala (the strength of his austerity). Kirmīra was left without his powers of illusion.
Bhīma then fought him directly. The fight was hard. Even without māyā Kirmīra was very strong. But Bhīma, the son of Vāyu, was stronger. Bhīma killed Kirmīra in the paśumāra manner. He throttled him with his bare hands and broke his neck.
The death of Kirmīra ended the line of hostile rākshasas who had stood against the Pāṇḍavas from the days at Ekacakrā onward.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 11