A Rakshasha is a type of demon. Most harass humans and even feed on the corpses of the dead, but some, like the half-Rakshasa Ghatotkaca, are noble.
Rakshasha Quotes in Mahabharata
The Mahabharata quotes below are all either spoken by Rakshasha or refer to Rakshasha. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 7. Drona
Quotes
And he performed this last find and astonishing foe-slaying feat: at the time he was pierced in the heart by the Spear, he appeared, O king, huge as a cloud, or a mountain; then that Rakshasa prince fell headlong to earth from on high, body torn, limbs stilled, lifeless and speechless, but gigantic in form. Bhima’s son Ghatotkaca, doer of fearful deeds, fell with the terrifying, fearful form he had assumed; and thus even in death he smashed on whole section of your army, bringing terror to the Kauravas.
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Rakshasha Term Timeline in Mahabharata
The timeline below shows where the term Rakshasha appears in Mahabharata. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1. Beginnings
THE KILLING OF HIDIMBA. Hidimba, a Rakshasa (demon), orders his sister to kill the Pandavas. She, however, falls in love with Bhima,...
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...surviving sister of Hidimba has sex with Bhima many times and gives birth to a half-Rakshasa son they call Ghatotkaca, who is “bald as a pot” and loves his Pandava brothers....
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...a while. They move on to a town full of Brahmins who are grieving. A Rakshasa called Baka is terrorizing them. The Rakshasa demands a donation of food, and Bhima agrees...
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Chapter 2. The Hall
...Pandavas, including a club for Bhima and a conch for Arjuna. The hall has 8,000 Rakshasa guards. Maya then gives the great hall to Yudhishthira, who holds a great feast to...
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Chapter 3. The Forest
THE KILLING OF KIRMIRA. Dhritarashtra hears a story about how Bhima killed a Rakshasa called Kirmira. He asks Vidura to tell him the story. Kirmira wanted to kill Bhima...
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...about the beautiful woman he saw. His father explains that the woman was probably a Rakshasa. But Riśyasringa doesn’t heed his father, and when the woman returns, she tricks him onto...
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...Yavakrita died and hears his story. Yavakrita is too proud and gets chased by a Rakshasa. He tries to hide in water, but everything is dry, and so he is caught...
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THE KILLING OF JATASURA. While Bhima is away, a Rakshasa named Jatasura kidnaps the Pandavas one day. Bhima finally makes it back and kills Jatasura,...
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Chapter 6. Bhishma
...each side killing many from the other side, but neither gaining a decisive advantage. A Rakshasa who is still mad about Bhima killing Baka sends illusory horses into battle to confuse...
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Chapter 7. Drona
...that Ghatotkaca, now revived, should go instead. Ghatotkaca goes on a rampage. Duryodhana sends a Rakshasa warrior named Alamabala to fight him, but Ghatotkaca defeats him and throws Alamabala’s head back...
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Chapter 10. The Night-Raid
...to die by fire or by Aśvatthaman’s hand. By midnight, the Pandava army is gone. Rakshasas and other demons come to feed on the corpses, bringing their wives and children. At...
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