Shloka 10
सुभद्राहरणम्
Subhadrā-haraṇa: Arjuna’s Taking of Subhadrā and the Dvārakā Assembly’s Response
ब्राह्मणस्वे हते चौरैर्धर्मार्थे च विलोपिते । रोखूयमाणे च मयि क्रियतामस्त्रधारणम्,“मुझ ब्राह्मणका धन चोर लिये जा रहे हैं, मेरे गौके न रहनेपर दुग्ध आदि हविष्यके अभावसे धर्म और अर्थका लोप हो रहा है तथा मैं यहाँ आकर रो रहा हूँ। पाण्डवो! (चोरोंको दण्ड देनेके लिये) अस्त्र धारण करो”
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: brāhmaṇasve hate cauraiḥ dharmārthe ca vilopite | rokhūyamāṇe ca mayi kriyatām astradhāraṇam ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Wenn Diebe das Gut eines Brāhmaṇa forttragen und wenn Dharma und weltliches Gedeihen untergraben werden—weil mit meiner geraubten Kuh Milch und andere Opfergaben für das Opfer fehlen—und wenn ich weinend hierher gekommen bin, o Pāṇḍavas, ergreift die Waffen (um die Diebe zu bestrafen).“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links social justice with dharma: when a brāhmaṇa’s livelihood and the means of ritual offerings are threatened, rulers/warriors (the Pāṇḍavas as kṣatriyas) are ethically obliged to protect, restore order, and punish wrongdoing. Protection of dharma includes safeguarding the material supports (artha) that sustain religious and social life.
A brāhmaṇa approaches in distress, reporting that thieves have taken his wealth (notably his cow). Because the cow is gone, milk-based offerings for sacrifice are unavailable, causing a decline in both dharma and prosperity. He weeps and urges the Pāṇḍavas to arm themselves to discipline the thieves and recover what was taken.