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 dijo: Allí, Bhīmasena—Vṛkodara, el de poderosos brazos—se acercó al voraz rākṣasa antropófago llamado Baka, de gran fuerza. La escena enmarca la determinación de Bhīma de enfrentar la violencia depredadora y proteger a los vulnerables, poniendo el valor personal al servicio de la salvaguarda conforme al dharma.
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.