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,तब युधिष्ठटिर बोले--भैया! यदि तुम मेरी बात मानते हो, तो इस पापाचारीको “छोड़ दो, छोड़ दो'। यह महाराज विराटका दास तो हो ही चुका है। (इसके बाद वे सुशर्मासे बोले --) तुम दास नहीं रहे, जाओ, छोड़ दिये गये। फिर कभी 'ऐसा काम न करना”
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
muñca muñcādhamācāraṁ pramāṇaṁ yadi te vayam |
dāsabhāvaṁ gato hy eṣa virāṭasya mahīpateḥ |
adāso gaccha mukto 'si māivaṁ kārṣīḥ kadācana ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dijo: «Suéltalo, suéltalo: suelta a este hombre de conducta vil, si nos aceptáis como autoridad. Ya ha caído en la condición de servidumbre bajo el rey Virāṭa. (Luego dijo a Suśarmā:) Ya no eres esclavo; vete: quedas libre. No vuelvas a cometer jamás tal acción.»
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.