Shloka 8
त्वया चोपह्नता राजन क्षत्रिया लोकवासिन:ः । तदागः क्रूरमुत्पाद्य मन्यसे किमनागसम्,राजन! तुमने भूलोकनिवासी क्षत्रियोंको कैद कर लिया है। ऐसे क्रूर अपराधका आयोजन करके भी तुम अपनेको निरपराध कैसे मानते हो?
tvayā copahatā rājan kṣatriyā lokavāsinaḥ | tadāgaḥ krūram utpādya manyase kim anāgasam ||
O King, you have also oppressed and subdued the kṣatriyas who dwell upon this earth. Having thus brought about a cruel wrongdoing, how do you still regard yourself as blameless?
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power does not erase responsibility: a ruler who harms and subjugates rightful protectors of society commits grave adharma, and self-justification cannot make such wrongdoing ‘innocent’.
Śrīkṛṣṇa addresses a king and condemns his act of imprisoning/oppressing the earth’s kṣatriyas, calling it a cruel offence and challenging the king’s claim to be blameless.