Shloka 163
वसिष्ठ-प्रशंसा
Vasiṣṭha as Purohita: Ascetic Mastery and Royal Counsel
इति श्रीमहाभारते आदिपर्वणि बकवधपर्वणि बकवधे त्रिषष्ट्यधिकशततमो< ध्याय:,इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत आदिपर्वके अन्तर्गत बकवधपर्वमें बकायुरवधविषयक एक सौ तिरसठवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti śrīmahābhārate ādiparvaṇi bakavadhaparvaṇi bakavadhe triṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ |
Assim, no Śrī Mahābhārata, dentro do Ādi Parva, na seção Bakavadha-parva, conclui-se o capítulo cento e sessenta e três, relativo à morte de Bakāyura (Baka).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a narrative closes with a formal colophon, the ethical thrust remains clear: dharma includes safeguarding society from exploiters and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. The end of Baka symbolizes the restoration of order through rightful action against predatory harm.
This line is a concluding colophon stating that the 163rd chapter of the Ādi Parva—specifically the section dealing with the slaying of Baka—has ended. It signals the completion of the Bakavadha episode within the larger Mahābhārata narration attributed here to Vaiśampāyana.