Shloka 9
Draupadī’s Lament and the Question of Kṣatriya Forbearance (द्रौपद्याः शोकप्रलापः क्षमानिर्णयश्च)
अवज्ञाय हि त॑ भृत्या भजन्ते बहुदोषताम् | आदातु चास्य वित्तानि प्रार्थयन्तेडल्पचेतस:,सेवकगण उसकी अवहेलना करके बहुत-से अपराध करते रहते हैं। इतना ही नहीं, वे मूर्ख भूत्यगण उसके धनको भी हड़प लेनेका हौसला रखते हैं
avajñāya hi taṁ bhṛtyā bhajante bahudoṣatām | ādātuṁ cāsya vittāni prārthayante 'lpa-cetasaḥ ||
For, once they begin to disregard him, servants fall into many faults. Indeed, those of little understanding even dare to seek to seize his wealth—an ethical warning that contempt for rightful authority breeds misconduct and greed.
प्रह्माद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disrespect toward a rightful superior (or patron) corrodes discipline: it leads dependents into repeated wrongdoing and can escalate into covetousness and attempts to appropriate the superior’s wealth.
Prahmāda is describing a social-ethical pattern: when servants begin to hold their master in contempt, they commit many offenses and, being small-minded, may even attempt to take his property—serving as counsel on maintaining proper respect and order.