Shloka 4
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 180 — Svayaṃvara-Virodha and Pāṇḍava Parākrama
Draupadī Episode
अशिष्टानां नियन्ता हि शिष्टानां परिरक्षिता । स्थाने रोष: प्रयुक्त: स्यान्नूपै: सर्वजिगीषुभि:
aurva uvāca |
aśiṣṭānāṁ niyantā hi śiṣṭānāṁ parirakṣitā |
sthāne roṣaḥ prayuktaḥ syān nṛpaiḥ sarvajigīṣubhiḥ ||
na hi taṁ vārayāmāsa vasiṣṭho rakṣasāṁ vadhāt |
dvitīyām asya mā bhāḍukṣa pratijñām iti niścayāt ||
Ūrva dit : «La colère, lorsqu’elle est employée au moment juste, devient—surtout pour les rois qui aspirent à vaincre tous—un frein pour les indisciplinés et une protection pour les hommes de règle et de droiture.» Aussi Vasiṣṭha ne le retint-il pas de tuer les rākṣasas, ayant résolu : «Que je ne sois pas cause de la rupture de son second vœu.»
ऑर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Anger is not inherently condemned; when governed by dharma and used at the right time, it functions as legitimate royal force—restraining the wicked and safeguarding the righteous—while fidelity to vows remains a binding ethical constraint.
Aurva explains why Vasiṣṭha did not stop the slaying of the rākṣasas: Vasiṣṭha judged the action as timely and protective, and he also chose not to interfere in a way that would make the agent violate a second solemn vow.