Shloka 12
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 180 — Svayaṃvara-Virodha and Pāṇḍava Parākrama
Draupadī Episode
राजभिश्रेश्वरैश्वेव यदि वै पितरो मम । शक्तैर्न शकितास्त्रातुमिष्टं मत्वेह जीवितम्,इस लोकमें अपना जीवन सबको प्रिय है, यह समझकर सबका शासन करनेवाले राजालोग सामर्थ्य होते हुए भी मेरे पिताओंकी रक्षा न कर सके, इसीलिये मैं भी इन सब लोकोंपर कुपित हुआ हूँ। मुझमें इन्हें दण्ड देनेकी शक्ति है। अतः (इस विषयमें) मैं आपलोगोंका वचन माननेमें असमर्थ हूँ प्रजोच्छेदमिमं महां न हि कर्तु त्वमर्हसि । नैष तात द्विजातीनां धर्मो दृष्टस्तपस्विनाम् “वत्स! मेरी संततिका तुम्हें इस प्रकार उच्छेद नहीं करना चाहिये। तात! यह हिंसा तपस्वी ब्राह्मणोंका धर्म कभी नहीं मानी गयी
rājabhiḥ śreṣṭhaiḥ īśvaraiś caiva yadi vai pitaraḥ mama | śaktair na śakitās trātuṃ iṣṭaṃ matveha jīvitam ||
prājocchedam imaṃ mahān na hi kartuṃ tvam arhasi | naiṣa tāta dvijātīnāṃ dharmo dṛṣṭas tapasvinām ||
Aurva said: “If even my forefathers could not be protected by the foremost kings and rulers—though they had the power—because they judged life in this world to be dear to all, then I too have become enraged against all these worlds. I have the strength to punish them; therefore I am unable to comply with your request in this matter. But (the elders reply): ‘Child, you should not bring about this great destruction of progeny in this way. Dear one, such violence has never been regarded as the dharma of ascetic Brahmins.’”
ऑर्व उवाच