Shloka 88
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
हा हतास्मि कुतो न्वद्य भवेच्छान्तिरिहानलात् । अनाथा विनशिष्यामि बालकै: पुत्रकैः सह,“हाय! हाय! मैं मारी गयी, अब इस आगसे कैसे शान्ति प्राप्त होगी? मैं अनाथकी तरह अपने बालक पुत्रोंके साथ नष्ट हो जाऊँगी'
hā hatāsmi kuto nv adya bhavec chāntir ihānalāt | anāthā vinaśiṣyāmi bālakaiḥ putrakaiḥ saha ||
“Aduhai, aku binasa! Bagaimana hari ini dapat ada ketenteraman di sini daripada api ini? Seperti orang tanpa tempat berlindung, aku akan musnah bersama anak-anakku yang kecil.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical urgency of protection (rakṣaṇa-dharma): when danger like fire threatens, the deepest human concern is safeguarding dependents—especially children—and the lament highlights how the loss of refuge (nātha) collapses one’s sense of peace (śānti).
A woman, overwhelmed by an immediate threat of fire, cries out in despair, fearing that she and her young sons will be consumed; the speech conveys panic, helplessness, and the instinct to seek safety and protection.