Shloka 116
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
एवं सुयुद्धे पार्थेन जिताहं मधुसूदन । स्वयंवरे महत् कर्म कृत्वा न सुकरं परै:,मधुसूदन! स्वयंवरमें, जो महान् कर्म दूसरोंके लिये दुष्कर था, वह करके भारी युद्धमें भी अर्जुनने मुझे जीत लिया था
evaṁ suyuddhe pārthena jitāhaṁ madhusūdana | svayaṁvare mahat karma kṛtvā na sukaraṁ paraiḥ ||
Wahai Madhusūdana, dalam pertempuran yang sengit aku ditewaskan oleh Pārtha. Bahkan sebelumnya, di svayaṃvara, dia telah melaksanakan suatu perbuatan agung—yang sukar dilakukan oleh orang lain. Maka dengan keberanian dan tekad, Arjuna terbukti lebih unggul.
राक्षस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical weight of proven excellence: true renown rests on demonstrated capability—both in public trials (svayaṃvara) and in direct confrontation (battle). It also reflects the warrior ethos where honor is acknowledged even by an adversary.
A Rākṣasa addresses Kṛṣṇa (Madhusūdana), recalling that Arjuna (Pārtha) defeated him in a fierce fight and had earlier performed an extraordinary feat at a svayaṃvara—something difficult for others—thereby affirming Arjuna’s superior valor.