Shloka 109
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
विक्रीड्य सुचिरं भीमो राक्षसेन सहानघ । निजघान महावीर्यस्तं तदा निर्बलं बली,निष्पाप श्रीकृष्ण! महापराक्रमी और बलवान् भीमसेनने उस राक्षसके साथ बहुत देरतक खिलवाड़ करके उसके निर्बल हो जानेपर उसे मार डाला
vikrīḍya suciraṃ bhīmo rākṣasena sahānagha | nijaghāna mahāvīryas taṃ tadā nirbalaṃ balī ||
羅刹と久しく戯れるように渡り合ったのち、ビーマは—武勇と剛力において比類なき者—相手が衰えたところを討ち取った。この一件はビーマの圧倒的な力を示すとともに、戦いの冷厳な掟を語る。すなわち、敵がもはや抗し得ぬ身となれば、勝負は断乎として終わる—たとえ勝者が先にはそれを力の誇示として扱っていたとしても。
राक्षस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the asymmetry of power in righteous struggle: a hero may restrain himself or test an opponent, but once the opponent is incapacitated, the conflict is concluded decisively. It invites reflection on restraint, proportionality, and the finality of violence in dharmic narratives.
Bhīma engages a rākṣasa for a long time as if in sport, then, when the rākṣasa becomes weak, Bhīma kills him, demonstrating his superior strength and martial dominance.