In the bygone days, when Lord Krishna lived happily in Mathura with his parents, there lived an asura (demon) named Bakasur. Once, as usual, Krishna and Balarama took their cows for grazing in the forest nearby. Soon the other cowherds joined them. When it became late in the day, they decided to return home but after taking their cows to the nearby river to drink water.
All off a sudden a huge stork emerged from the bushes in the river. It had a bill so large that it could swallow a number of living beings. Without Lord Krishna or the other cowherds becoming aware of its presence, the stork picked up Lord Krishna in its bill. When the cowherds found the Lord missing, they turned to look towards the river. They saw Krishna'slegs flapping wildly in the stork'sbill. They then knew that Krishna was lost to them. While Balarama rushed home to inform Nand about Krishna'sdeath, the others, who were witness to the gruesome sight, fainted promptly there and then.
Meanwhile, the stork gulped Krishna down into its stomach. Krishna, realising the plight he was in, began to scratch the throat of the stork from inside and flay his legs and hands wildly. Unable to bear the feeling of nausea caused within due to the vigorous activity inside its stomach, the stork vomited out Krishna.
Krishna, fuming with anger, caught on to the stork'sbill and pulled the upper and lower parts apart, till the stork let out a loud yell of pain. Its throat began to bleed profusely. Finally the stork collapsed on the ground and died.
Krishna rushed towards his friends who lay unconscious on the ground. Taking some water in his hands, he revived the cowherds by sprinkling water on their faces. They were surprised to see Krishna looking hale and hearty while the dead stork lay nearby. They all returned home to Nand who said, ?I have known since long that Krishna is no ordinary mortal. He must be God himself.?
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