Shloka 51
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 94: Sātyaki–Sudarśana Yuddha (सात्यकि–सुदर्शन युद्ध)
अयुध्यति न मोक्तव्या सा त्वय्येव पतेदिति । हन्यादेषा प्रतीपं हि प्रयोक्तारमपि प्रभो,गदा देकर भगवान् वरुणने उनसे पुनः कहा--“वत्स! जो युद्ध न कर रहा हो, उसपर इस गदाका प्रहार न करना; अन्यथा यह तुम्हारे ऊपर ही आकर गिरेगी। शक्तिशाली पुत्र! यह गदा प्रतिकूल आचरण करनेवाले प्रयोक्ता पुरुषको भी मार सकती है”
sañjaya uvāca |
ayudhyati na moktavyā sā tvayy eva pated iti |
hanyād eṣā pratīpaṃ hi prayoktāram api prabho ||
Sañjaya said: “This mace should not be hurled at one who is not fighting; otherwise it will fall back upon you yourself. Indeed, O lord, this mace can strike down even its wielder if he acts contrary to what is right.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Violence must be governed by dharma: a weapon should not be used against a non-combatant, and wrongful use rebounds upon the perpetrator—ethically and, here, even literally.
Sañjaya reports a warning about a mace: it must not be hurled at someone who is not fighting; if used against dharma, it can turn back and destroy even its own wielder.