Shloka 61
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 33 — Kuru Cattle-Raid and Matsya Mobilization (भूमिंजय-प्रेरणा)
युधिछिर उवाच मुज्च मुज्चाधमाचारं प्रमाणं यदि ते वयम् । दासभावं गतो होष विराटस्य महीपते: । अदासो गच्छ मुक्तोडसि मैवं कार्षी: कदाचन
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
muñca muñcādhamācāraṁ pramāṇaṁ yadi te vayam |
dāsabhāvaṁ gato hy eṣa virāṭasya mahīpateḥ |
adāso gaccha mukto 'si māivaṁ kārṣīḥ kadācana ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Release him—release this man of base conduct, if you accept us as your authority. He has already fallen into the condition of servitude under King Virāṭa. You are no longer a slave; go—you are set free. Never again commit such a deed.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when confronting wrongdoing, one should act with restraint and moral authority: punishments or reprisals should not become cruelty. Yudhiṣṭhira emphasizes release and a clear ethical warning, modeling dharma through mercy and self-control.
Yudhiṣṭhira intervenes to stop further harsh treatment of a wrongdoer/captive, declaring that the person has already undergone the humiliation of servitude under King Virāṭa. He then formally frees him and admonishes him not to repeat such misconduct.