Shloka 11
Post–Baka-vadha Residence and the Introduction of Yājñasenī’s Svayaṃvara (आदि पर्व, अध्याय १५३)
हिडिग्बोवाच नावमन्ये नरव्याप्र त्वामहं देवरूपिणम् | दृष्टप्रभावस्तु मया मानुषेष्वेव राक्षस:,हिडिम्बाने कहा--नरश्रेष्ठी आपका स्वरूप तो देवताओंके समान है ही। मैं आपका तिरस्कार नहीं करती। मैं तो इसलिये कहती थी कि मनुष्योंपर ही इस राक्षसका प्रभाव मैं (कई बार) देख चुकी हूँ
Hiḍimbovāca nāvamanye naravyāghra tvām ahaṃ devarūpiṇam | dṛṣṭaprabhāvas tu mayā mānuṣeṣv eva rākṣasaḥ ||
Hiḍimbā sprach: „O Tiger unter den Menschen, ich verachte dich nicht, denn deine Gestalt ist wahrhaft göttergleich. Ich sprach nur deshalb so, weil ich die Macht dieses Rākṣasa schon oft an Menschen wirksam gesehen habe.“
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not judge speech as contempt without examining intent: Hiḍimbā clarifies that her warning arises from witnessed danger, while also affirming respect for the hero’s divine-like stature—an ethical emphasis on discernment, truthful counsel, and protection.
During the forest encounter with the rākṣasa Hiḍimba, Hiḍimbā addresses the hero (Bhīma) respectfully, denying any insult and explaining that her concern comes from having seen the rākṣasa’s power successfully harm humans before.