Mahabharata (Gita Press) 3.39.27 - Vana Parva, Adhyaya 39, Shloka 27
Arjuna’s Himalayan Departure and the Commencement of Severe Tapas
Janamejaya’s Inquiry; Sages Approach Śiva
एष चापि मया जसन्तुर्मगरूपं समाश्रित: । राक्षसो निहतो घोरो हन्तुं मामिह चागत:,यह प्राणी हिंसक पशुका रूप धारण करके मुझे ही मारनेके लिये यहाँ आया था, अतः इस भयंकर राक्षसको मैंने मार गिराया है
eṣa cāpi mayā jasantur-magarūpaṃ samāśritaḥ | rākṣaso nihato ghoro hantuṃ mām iha cāgataḥ ||
Arjuna sprach: „Dieser furchtbare Rākṣasa namens Jasantu hatte die Gestalt eines Krokodils angenommen und war hierher gekommen, um mich zu töten. Darum habe ich jenes schreckliche Wesen niedergestreckt und erschlagen.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames violence within dharma: when a malicious aggressor (rākṣasa) comes to kill, a kṣatriya’s duty includes protecting oneself and others. Slaying the violent attacker is presented as justified self-defense rather than cruelty.
Arjuna reports that a fearsome rākṣasa named Jasantu approached him with intent to kill, disguising himself in a crocodile-like form. Arjuna therefore killed the rākṣasa and explains the reason for the act.
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