Shloka 16
मा शिरोअस्य पदा मार्दीर्मा धर्मस्तेडतिगो भवेत् | राजा ज्ञातिहतश्नायं नैतन्नन््याय्यं तवानघ,“तुम इसके मस्तकको पैरसे न ठुकराओ। तुम्हारे द्वारा धर्मका उल्लंघन नहीं होना चाहिये। अनघ! दुर्योधन राजा और हमारा भाई-बन्धु है; यह मार डाला गया, अब तुम्हें इसके साथ ऐसा बर्ताव करना उचित नहीं है
sañjaya uvāca |
mā śiro 'sya padā mārdīr mā dharmas te 'tigō bhavet |
rājā jñātihataś cāyaṃ naitann anyāyyaṃ tavānagha ||
Sañjaya said: “Do not strike or kick his head with your foot; let no breach of dharma be committed by you. This man is a king, and also our slain kinsman. Now that he has been killed, such treatment is not proper for you, O blameless one.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in victory and anger, one must not violate dharma; humiliating a fallen foe—especially a king and kinsman—is improper. Restraint and respect for the dead are presented as marks of righteous conduct.
After Duryodhana has been slain, someone is about to insult his corpse by kicking his head. Sañjaya intervenes, warning that such an act would be an adharma and unfitting, since the fallen is a king and a relative.