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 ||
അർജുനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ജസന്തു എന്ന ഈ ഭീകരരാക്ഷസൻ മകരരൂപം ധരിച്ചു എന്നെ കൊല്ലാൻ ഇവിടെ വന്നിരുന്നു; അതുകൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ ആ ദുഷ്ടനെ വധിച്ചു.
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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