Shloka 20
Ruru’s Lament and the Lifespan Exchange for Pramadvarā (रुरु–प्रमद्वरा आयुर्विभागः)
स दृष्टवा जिद्दागान् सर्वास्तीव्रकोपसमन्वित: । अभिहन्ति यथासत्त्वं गृह प्रहरणं सदा,वह सर्पोको देखते ही अत्यन्त क्रोधमें भर जाता और हाथमें डंडा ले उनपर यथाशक्ति प्रहार करता था
sa dṛṣṭvā jiddāgān sarvāstīvrakopasamanvitaḥ | abhihanti yathāsattvaṃ gṛha-praharaṇaṃ sadā ||
Seeing all those creatures, he would be seized by fierce anger; taking up a household weapon (a staff), he would strike at them with all the strength he had—acting from impulsive wrath rather than measured restraint.
धर्मराज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how uncontrolled anger leads to disproportionate harm: when one is overtaken by tīvra-kopa, one acts impulsively and violently, contrary to dharma and self-restraint.
Dharmarāja describes a person who, upon seeing the creatures before him, becomes extremely angry, picks up a household weapon like a stick, and strikes them as much as he can.