Shloka 27
Droṇotpattiḥ, Astralābhaḥ, Drupada-vairasya bījaṃ ca
The Birth of Droṇa, Acquisition of Weapons, and the Seed of Enmity with Drupada
क्षेममद्य करिष्यामि यथा वनमकण्टकम् | न पुनर्मनिषान् हत्वा भक्षयिष्यसि राक्षस,राक्षस! आज तुझे मारकर मैं इस वनको निष्कण्टक एवं मंगलमय बना दूँगा, जिससे फिर तू मनुष्योंको मारकर नहीं खा सकेगा
kṣemam adya kariṣyāmi yathā vanam akaṇṭakam | na punar manuṣyān hatvā bhakṣayiṣyasi rākṣasa rākṣasa ||
ఓ రాక్షసా! ఈ రోజు నిన్ను సంహరించి ఈ అడవిని కంటకరహితంగా, క్షేమమయంగా చేస్తాను; ఇకపై నీవు మనుష్యులను చంపి తినలేవు।
भीम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents protective action as dharma: force is justified when it removes a predatory threat and restores safety (kṣema) for innocent people, making the environment ‘thornless’ (akaṇṭaka) in the sense of free from danger.
Bhima addresses a man-eating rākṣasa and vows to kill him that very day, declaring that this will make the forest safe and prevent the demon from killing and eating humans again.