Shloka 98
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
एवमुक्ता तु भीमेन राक्षसी कामरूपिणी । भीमसेनं महात्मानमाह चैवमनिन्दिता,इस प्रकार पूछनेपर इच्छानुसार रूप धारण करनेवाली उस अनिन्द्य सुन्दरी राक्षसकन्याने महात्मा भीमसे कहा--
evamuktā tu bhīmena rākṣasī kāmarūpiṇī | bhīmasenaṃ mahātmānam āha caivam aninditā ||
భీముడు ఇలా పలికినప్పుడు, ఇష్టానుసారంగా రూపం ధరించగల ఆ రాక్షసి—అనింద్య స్వరూపిణి—మహాత్ముడైన భీమసేనునితో ఈ విధంగా చెప్పింది.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily functions as narrative framing, but it subtly models ethical characterization: even a being from a feared class (rākṣasī) can be described as aninditā (irreproachable), reminding readers that moral appraisal in the epic often depends on conduct rather than mere birth or species.
After Bhīma addresses her, the shape-shifting rākṣasī maiden turns to respond. The verse signals a shift from Bhīma’s inquiry to her forthcoming speech, setting up the next development in the encounter.