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Mahabharata · 7.83.22–23
॥
Санджая
Devanāgarī
घोरं रूपम् अथो कृत्वा भीमसेनम् अभाषत ॥
तिष्ठेदानीं रणे पार्थ पश्य मे ऽद्य पराक्रमम् ॥
बको नाम सुदुर्बुद्धे राक्षसप्रवरो बली ॥
परोक्षं मम तद्वृत्तं यद् भ्राता मे हतस् त्वया ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ghoraṃ rūpam atho kṛtvā bhīmasenam abhāṣata ||
tiṣṭhedānīṃ raṇe pārtha paśya me 'dya parākramam ||
bako nāma sudurbuddhe rākṣasapravaro balī ||
parokṣaṃ mama tadvṛttaṃ yad bhrātā me hatas tvayā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
घोरम् रूपम् अथो कृत्वाghoram rūpam atho kṛtvāassuming then a terrible form; having then taken on a fearsome form
भीमसेनम् अभाषतbhīmasenam abhāṣataaddressed Bhimasena; spoke to Bhimasena
तिष्ठ इदानीम् रणे पार्थtiṣṭha idānīm raṇe pārthastand now in battle, son of Pritha; stand now in the fight, son of Pritha
पश्य मे अद्य पराक्रमम्paśya me adya parākramambehold now my valor; behold today my prowess
बकः नाम सुदुर्बुद्धेbakaḥ nāma sudurbuddheBaka by name, O foolish one; [there] was one named Baka, O dull-witted one
राक्षसप्रवरः बलीrākṣasapravaraḥ balīforemost of rakshasas, the mighty; chief among rakshasas, the powerful one
परोक्षम् मम तत् वृत्तम्parokṣam mama tat vṛttamin my absence that came to pass; in my absence that happened
यत् भ्राता मे हतः त्वयाyat bhrātā me hataḥ tvayāthat my brother was slain by you; that my brother was killed by you
Translation
Assuming then a terrible form, the rakshasa addressed Bhimasena: "Stand now in battle, son of Pritha, behold my valor. There was one named Baka, O foolish one, foremost of rakshasas, mighty; in my absence it came to pass that my brother was slain by you."
Version
6cc315a2349d · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:02:22 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The rakshasa is moved by "smaran bhrātṛvadham", the memory of his brother's death: even in a demonic heart lives a kinship attachment turned into a thirst for revenge. It is telling that enmity is often nourished by love for one's own—vengeance is a distorted form of loyalty. The verse teaches that even the demonic principle acts in the name of what it takes for good; attachment to kin, not illumined by dharma, breeds vengefulness, and blood calls for blood—until the cycle of retribution is cut short by a higher power.