Shloka 127
Kirmīra-rākṣasa-saṃgamaḥ (Encounter and Slaying of Kirmīra) | किर्मीरेण सह भीमसेनसमागमः
चतुर्भि: कारणै: कृष्ण त्वया रक्ष्यास्मि नित्यश: । सम्बन्धाद् गौरवात् सख्यात् प्रभुत्वेनेव केशव,“श्रीकृष्ण! चार कारणोंसे आपको सदा मेरी रक्षा करनी चाहिये। एक तो आप मेरे सम्बन्धी हैं, दूसरे अग्निकुण्डमें उत्पन्न होनेके कारण मैं गौरवशालिनी हूँ, तीसरे आपकी सच्ची सखी हूँ और चौथे आप मेरी रक्षा करनेमें समर्थ हैं'
caturbhiḥ kāraṇaiḥ kṛṣṇa tvayā rakṣyāsmi nityaśaḥ | sambandhād gauravāt sakhyāt prabhutveneva keśava ||
Sinabi ng rākṣasī: “Kṛṣṇa, sa apat na dahilan dapat mo akong laging ipagtanggol: una, dahil tayo’y magkamag-anak; ikalawa, dahil ako’y karapat-dapat igalang, sapagkat ako’y sumilang mula sa hukay ng apoy; ikatlo, dahil ako’y tunay mong kaibigan; at ikaapat, dahil taglay mo ang kapangyarihan at karapatan upang ako’y pangalagaan, O Keśava.”
राक्षस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames protection as a dharmic obligation grounded in four bases—kinship, honor/dignity, friendship, and the protector’s capacity. It highlights that power (prabhutva) is ethically meaningful when used to safeguard those who have a legitimate relational or moral claim.
A rākṣasī addresses Kṛṣṇa directly and asserts that he should protect her continually. She justifies this demand by citing their relationship, her claim to respect, her friendship with him, and his ability/authority to provide protection.