Verse 22
He knows them by their forearms· Verses 22–27
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22But by their voices, by their build, and by the forearms marked from the bowstring, he knew them for men of the kshatriya line whom he had seen before, and he thought: 23These are of the kshatriya line, and they are carrying the marks of brahmins. I will give them what they beg for, even my own self, which is the hardest thing to give up. 24The fame of Bali is heard of still, spread through the quarters without a stain on it, though Visnu, in the disguise of a brahmin, threw him down from his lordship. 25Knowing what was happening, and though he was held back from it, the king of the Daityas gave the earth to Visnu in the form of a twice-born, who had come to take back Indra's fortune.
26What is the use of a kshatriya in name only who goes on living, when with a body that is falling anyway he does not go after wide fame for the sake of the brahmins? 27So the man of open mind said to Krsna, Arjuna and Wolf-belly: Brahmins, choose what you want. I will give you even my own head.