Shloka 16
गौतमको लेकर वे राक्षस शीघ्र ही मेरुव्रजमें गये। वहाँ उन्होंने राजाको राजधर्माका मृत शरीर दिखाया और पापाचारी कृतघ्न गौतमको भी सामने खड़ा कर दिया ।। रुरोद राजा तं दृष्टवा सामात्य: सपुरोहितः । आर्तनादश्न सुमहानभूत् तस्य निवेशने
gautamakaṃ nītvā te rākṣasāḥ śīghram eva meruvraje gatāḥ | tatra te rājānaṃ rājadharmasya mṛtaṃ śarīraṃ darśayām āsuḥ, pāpācāriṇaṃ kṛtaghnaṃ gautamakaṃ ca sammukhe sthāpayām āsuḥ || ruroda rājā taṃ dṛṣṭvā sāmātyaḥ sapurohitaḥ | ārtanādaś ca sumahān abhūt tasya niveśane ||
Bhīṣma said: “Taking Gautamaka with them, the rākṣasas quickly went to Meruvraja. There they showed the king the dead body of Rājadharma, and they also made the sinful, ungrateful Gautamaka stand before him. Seeing that, the king—together with his ministers and his family priest—broke down in tears, and a very great cry of anguish arose throughout his residence.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of kṛtaghnatā (ingratitude) and pāpācāra (sinful conduct): wrongdoing is not merely private but wounds the moral order and brings public sorrow. It also frames accountability—wrongdoers are brought face-to-face with consequences before rightful authority.
Rākṣasas bring Gautamaka to Meruvraja and present to the king the dead body of a person named Rājadharma, while also placing the culpable Gautamaka before him. The king, along with his ministers and priest, is overwhelmed with grief, and loud lamentation spreads through the palace.