Have you ever wondered why, in many parts of North India, the cook is called a Maharaj? This may have something to do with the way the cook treats the kitchen as his sovereign territory that no one can trespass. Or, it may have something to do with the legend of a king who in adverse times was forced to serve as a cook and hide in another king’s kitchen.

In the Mahabharata, we hear of two such tales of king who hide in kitchens. The first is Bhima, the second Pandava prince, who loves to eat food. In his 13th year of exile, when he’s supposed to be in hiding, he serves as a cook named Ballava, in the royal kitchens of Virata, king of Matsya Desha. So, the man who loves food now cooks food and feeds others, before he can eat himself. Bhima takes up this role after sages tell him the story of Nala, during their stay in the forest.