Baka the Crane

Who Baka the Crane is

Baka was an asura, brother of Putana, who took the form of a gigantic crane by the banks of the Yamuna in Vrindavana. As the cowherd boys watered their calves, the crane swallowed the young Krishna whole. Krishna burned the demon's throat like fire, so that it had to cast him up; when it attacked again with its sharp beak, Krishna seized the two halves of the beak and tore it apart.

“I wait by the water. Something will wander close enough to snap up.”

How Baka the Crane plays chess

Snaps up pieces greedily and must spit them out again when they burn.

The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.

Opening repertoire: Scandinavian, Main Line · Two Knights, Fritz Variation · Sicilian, Grand Prix

Defeat Baka the Crane in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Beak Broken and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Bhagavata Purana, Book 10, Chapter 11

Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.