Shloka 17
Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)
अस्थाने यदि वा स्थाने सततं रजसा5<5वृत: । क्रुद्धों दण्डान् प्रणयति विविधान् स्वेन तेजसा,क्रोधी मनुष्य रजोगुणसे आवृत होकर योग्य या अयोग्य अवसरका विचार किये बिना ही अपने उत्तेजित स्वभावसे लोगोंको नाना प्रकारके दण्ड देता रहता है
asthāne yadi vā sthāne satataṃ rajasāvṛtaḥ | kruddho daṇḍān praṇayati vividhān svena tejasā ||
A man who is constantly veiled by rajas (passion) becomes wrathful and, without judging whether the occasion is proper or improper, keeps inflicting various punishments on others through the force of his own heated energy.
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Anger arising from rajas destroys discernment (the ability to judge right time and right occasion). When such anger governs a person—especially one with authority—punishment becomes arbitrary and excessive, harming dharma. The implied remedy is self-control and clear judgment before exercising power.
Prahlāda is speaking as a moral instructor, describing the behavior of a rajas-dominated, wrathful person. He explains how such a person, blinded by passion, imposes many kinds of punishments without considering whether the situation truly warrants them.