Shloka 26
बकवधोत्तर-प्रशमनम् | Post-slaying Stabilization after Baka’s Death
तेनाहं प्रेषिता क्रात्रा दुष्टभावेन रक्षसा । बिभक्षयिषता मांसं युष्माकममरोपम,“वह मेरा भाई है। उस राक्षसने दुष्टभावसे मुझे यहाँ भेजा है। देवोपम वीर! वह आपलोगोंका मांस खाना चाहता है
tenāhaṃ preṣitā krātrā duṣṭabhāvena rakṣasā | bibhakṣayiṣatā māṃsaṃ yuṣmākam amaropama ||
అతడు నా అన్న. దుష్టభావంతో ఉన్న ఆ రాక్షసుడు కోపంతో నన్ను ఇక్కడికి పంపాడు. హే అమరసమాన వీరా! అతడు మీ మాంసాన్ని భక్షించదలచుకున్నాడు.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical contrast between malicious predation (the rākṣasa’s intent to consume human flesh) and the implied duty of the godlike hero to protect others from such harm—an early Mahābhārata framing of dharma as safeguarding life against adharma.
A speaker reports that a rākṣasa, acting with evil intent, has forcibly sent her as a messenger or lure, declaring that he intends to devour the heroes’ flesh; the address “amaropama” heightens the expectation that the threatened party can and should respond decisively.