Shloka 31
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
गौतम्युवाच नास्मिन् हते पन्नगे पुत्रको मे सम्प्राप्स्यते लुब्धक जीवित वै । गुणं चान्य॑ नास्य वधे प्रपश्ये तस्मात् सर्प लुब्धक मुज्च जीवम्
Gautamy uvāca—nāsmin hate pannage putrako me samprāpsyate lubdhaka jīvita vai | guṇaṁ cānyan nāsya vadhe prapaśye tasmāt sarpa lubdhaka muñca jīvam ||
Gautamī dit : «Ô chasseur, même si ce serpent est tué, mon enfant ne reviendra pas à la vie. Je ne vois d’ailleurs aucun autre bienfait à le mettre à mort. C’est pourquoi, ô chasseur, relâche ce serpent vivant.»
लुब्धक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Gautamī argues from dharma and practical wisdom: killing out of grief or revenge does not restore what is lost, and violence without clear benefit only multiplies harm. Therefore one should restrain anger and choose compassion.
After Gautamī’s son has died due to a snake, the hunter (lubdhaka) is ready to kill the snake. Gautamī stops him, stating her son will not return to life by the snake’s death and that no good comes from it, so the snake should be released alive.