Shloka 118
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
त इमे सिंहविक्रान्ता वीर्येणा भ्यधिका: परै: । विहीनै: परिक्लिश्यन्तीं समुपैक्षन्त मां कथम्,ये सिंहके समान पराक्रमी पाण्डव बल-वीर्यमें शत्रुओंसे बढ़े-चढ़े हैं, इनसे सर्वथा हीन कौरव मुझे भरी सभामें कष्ट दे रहे थे, तो भी इन्होंने क्यों मेरी उपेक्षा की?
te ime siṁha-vikrāntā vīryeṇābhyadhikāḥ paraiḥ | vihīnaiḥ parikliśyantīṁ samupai kṣanta māṁ katham ||
Mereka, para Pāṇḍava itu, gagah seperti singa, mengatasi musuh dalam kekuatan dan keberanian. Namun ketika aku diseksa di balairung penuh oleh para Kaurava—yang sama sekali lebih hina daripada mereka—bagaimana mungkin mereka memandangku dengan acuh tak acuh?
राक्षस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical failure of powerful protectors who remain passive while injustice is done. Strength and superiority carry responsibility; indifference to wrongdoing becomes a moral lapse, especially when the victim is being publicly humiliated or harmed.
A rākṣasa speaker questions why the mighty Pāṇḍavas—renowned for lion-like valor—did not intervene when the Kauravas, portrayed as inferior, were causing suffering in the royal assembly. The line frames their non-intervention as puzzling and blameworthy.