Shloka 14
राजधर्मः—प्रमादवर्जनं, दण्डनीतिः, दुर्बलरक्षणम्
Royal Dharma: Vigilance, Just Punishment, Protection of the Vulnerable
दुर्बलस्य च यच्चक्षु्मुनेराशीविषस्य च । अविषद्दातमं मन्ये मा सम दुर्बलमासद:,दुर्बल मनुष्य, मुनि और विषधर सर्प--इन सबकी दृष्टिको मैं अत्यन्त दुःसह मानता हूँ; इसलिये तुम किसी दुर्बल प्राणीको न सताना
durbalasya ca yac cakṣuḥ muner āśīviṣasya ca | aviṣād dāruṇaṃ manye mā sama durbalam āsadaḥ ||
Utathya said: “The glance of a weak person, of an ascetic, and of a venomous serpent, when provoked, is exceedingly perilous. Therefore, do not harass or oppress any weak being.”
उतथ्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not mistreat the weak: those who appear powerless (or harmless) can become dangerously formidable when provoked—through inner fire, ascetic power, or latent capacity—so dharma requires restraint and compassion.
Utathya delivers a warning framed as a moral maxim: the ‘look’ of a weak person, a sage, and a venomous snake is dreadful when roused; hence one should refrain from attacking or tormenting the vulnerable.