Shloka 28
Aṃśāvataraṇa-kathana (Catalog of Divine/Asuric Portions in Human Births) — Chapter 61
तत्राससाद क्षुधितं पुरुषादं वृकोदर: । भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्बक॑ नाम महाबलम्,उस नगरके समीप एक मनुष्यभक्षी राक्षस रहता था, जिसका नाम था बक। एक दिन महाबाहु भीमसेन उस क्षुधातुर महाबली राक्षस बकके समीप गये
tatrāsasāda kṣudhitaṃ puruṣādaṃ vṛkodaraḥ | bhīmaseno mahābāhur bakaṃ nāma mahābalam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: Dort näherte sich Bhīmasena—Vṛkodara, der Mächtigarmige—dem gierigen menschenfressenden Rākṣasa namens Baka, von großer Kraft. Die Szene zeichnet Bhīmas Entschlossenheit, räuberischer Gewalt entgegenzutreten und die Schutzlosen zu bewahren, indem er persönlichen Mut in den Dienst dharmischer Bewahrung stellt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength and courage gain ethical meaning when directed toward protecting others and restraining predatory harm; Bhīma’s approach to Baka signals righteous intervention against oppression.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma (Vṛkodara) goes to the vicinity of the hungry man-eating rākṣasa Baka, initiating the confrontation that will address the threat posed to the local people.