Shloka 11
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga
यस्य राष्ट्रे प्रजा: सर्वास्त्रस्यन्ते साध्व्यसाधुभि: । तस्य मत्तस्य नश्यन्ति कीर्तिरायुर्भगो गति: ॥ १० ॥ एष राज्ञां परो धर्मो ह्यार्तानामार्तिनिग्रह: । अत एनं वधिष्यामि भूतद्रुहमसत्तमम् ॥ ११ ॥
yasya rāṣṭre prajāḥ sarvās trasyante sādhvy asādhubhiḥ tasya mattasya naśyanti kīrtir āyur bhago gatiḥ
হে সাধ্বী, যে রাজার রাজ্যে দুষ্কৃতিদের দ্বারা সকল প্রজা ভীত থাকে, তার কীর্তি, আয়ু, ঐশ্বর্য ও শুভ গতি নষ্ট হয়। রাজাদের পরম ধর্ম হলো আর্তদের দুঃখ দমন করা; তাই আমি এই জীবদ্রোহী অধমকে বধ করব।
When there is some disturbance caused by wild animals in a village or town, the police or others take action to kill them. Similarly, it is the duty of the government to kill at once all bad social elements such as thieves, dacoits and murderers. The same punishment is also due to animal killers because the animals of the state are also the prajā. Prajā means one who has taken birth in the state, and this includes both men and animals. Any living being who takes birth in a state has the primary right to live under the protection of the king. The jungle animals are also subject to the king, and they also have a right to live. So what to speak of domestic animals like the cows and bulls.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a king’s highest duty is to restrain and remove the suffering of the afflicted citizens; failing to protect them destroys the ruler’s fame, lifespan, prosperity, and future destination.
Seeing Kali as “bhūta-druh”—hostile to all beings—and the cause of fear and harassment among the people, Parīkṣit declares that protecting the distressed is the supreme duty of kings, thus he resolves to punish Kali.
Leaders and caregivers should actively protect the vulnerable and stop harm; neglecting injustice corrodes one’s integrity, reputation, and well-being—while righteous protection upholds dharma.