Shloka 15
Jaṭāsura-praveśa, Draupadī-apaharaṇa, and Jaṭāsura-vadha (जटासुरप्रवेशः द्रौपद्यपहरणं च जटासुरवधः)
ततः: सर्वे महाबाहुं समासाद्य वृकोदरम् । तेजोयुक्तमपृच्छन्त कस्त्वमाख्यातुमहसि
tataḥ sarve mahābāhuṃ samāsādya vṛkodaram | tejoyuktam apṛcchanta kas tvam ākhyātum arhasi ||
Then all of them approached Vṛkodara, the mighty-armed one, radiant with energy, and questioned him: “Who are you? You ought to tell us.” The moment underscores a dharmic expectation in encounters with powerful strangers—identity and intent should be disclosed to prevent fear, misunderstanding, and unjust conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In dharmic social conduct, especially when meeting a formidable person, clarity of identity and purpose is expected. Asking “Who are you?” is not mere curiosity but a safeguard against fear, deception, and rash violence, promoting orderly and ethical interaction.
A group of people approach Bhīma (Vṛkodara), who appears powerful and radiant, and they question him directly about his identity, insisting that he should disclose who he is.