Shloka 17
बकवधोत्तर-प्रशमनम् | Post-slaying Stabilization after Baka’s Death
दृष्टवैव भीमसेनं सा शालपोतमिवोदगतम् । राक्षसी कामयामास रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि,धरतीपर उगे हुए साखूके पौधेकी भाँति मनोहर भीमसेनको देखते ही वह राक्षसी (मुग्ध हो) उन्हें चाहने लगी। इस पृथ्वीपर वे अनुपम रूपवान् थे
dṛṣṭvaiva bhīmasenaṃ sā śālapotam ivodgatam | rākṣasī kāmayāmāsa rūpeṇāpratimaṃ bhuvi ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang makita niya si Bhīmasena—kaakit-akit na gaya ng batang usbong ng punong śāla na bagong sibol—ang rākṣasī ay agad na nabighani at naghangad sa kanya. Sa daigdig na ito, siya’y may kagandahang walang kapantay.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sudden, sense-born rise of desire (kāma) upon seeing an attractive object, implying the need for discernment and restraint so that passion does not override dharma and proper conduct.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a rākṣasī, upon seeing Bhīma—likened to a freshly grown śāla sapling—immediately becomes infatuated with him, emphasizing Bhīma’s extraordinary appearance and initiating the ensuing encounter.