Shloka 76
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
पूजन्युवाच यस्येह व्रणिनौ पादौ पद्भ्यां च परिसर्पति । खन््येते तस्य तौ पादौ सुगुप्तमिह धावत:
pūjany uvāca yasyeha vraṇinau pādau padbhyāṃ ca parisarpati | khanyete tasya tau pādau sugupatam iha dhāvataḥ ||
পূজনী বললেন—রাজন! যার দুই পায়ে ক্ষত হয়েছে, তবু যদি সে সেই পা দিয়েই চলতে থাকে, তবে যতই সাবধানে চলুক—এই জগতে দৌড়ঝাঁপ করতে করতে তার পা বারবারই আহত হবে।
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person should not persist in the very course of action that keeps aggravating an existing harm; even careful continuation of a harmful pattern tends to reopen wounds. The verse urges restraint and a change of conduct rather than merely ‘managing’ damage.
Pūjanī addresses a king and uses a vivid analogy: someone with wounded feet who still keeps moving with them will inevitably suffer repeated injury. The image functions as counsel—warning the ruler about the futility of continuing a damaging pursuit even with caution.