Shloka 57
लुप्तधर्मा परेणासि धर्म दर्शय वै सुतान् । कि ते राज्येन दुर्धर्ष येन प्राप्तोडसि किल्बिषम्,“तुम्हारा धर्म अत्यन्त लुप्त हो गया है। अपने पुत्रोंको धर्मका मार्ग दिखाओ। दुर्धर्ष वीर! तुम्हें राज्य लेकर क्या करना है, जिसके लिये अपने ऊपर पापका बोझ लाद रहे हो?
luptadharmā pareṇāsi dharma darśaya vai sutān | ki te rājyena durdharṣa yena prāpto'si kilbiṣam ||
“Your dharma has been eclipsed by another’s influence. Show your sons the path of righteousness. O hard-to-overcome hero, what use is a kingdom to you, for the sake of which you have taken upon yourself the burden of sin?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship is not worth pursuing at the cost of dharma: one should restrain ambition, avoid incurring sin, and actively guide one’s children toward righteous conduct.
Vaiśampāyana reports a rebuke addressed to a powerful ruler/warrior: he is told that his righteousness has been eclipsed under another’s influence and is urged to instruct his sons in dharma rather than cling to a kingdom that brings moral guilt.