Shloka 24
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
दत्तं मया याचितं च तानि पूर्णानि पार्थिवा: । अधुना वधयिष्यामि पश्यतां वो महीक्षिताम्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: dattaṃ mayā yācitaṃ ca tāni pūrṇāni pārthivāḥ | adhunā vadhayiṣyāmi paśyatāṃ vo mahīkṣitām ||
«Ô rois, le don que j’ai accordé à la demande d’autrui est désormais entièrement épuisé. Maintenant, sous vos yeux, vous qui régnez sur la terre, je vais le mettre à mort.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s patience and forgiveness may be extended due to a vow or boon, but dharmic governance also requires that repeated wrongdoing eventually meets just consequence—especially when a publicly declared limit has been reached.
The narrator reports a declaration addressed to assembled kings: the speaker states that a previously granted concession (forgiveness promised upon request) has now been fully used up, and therefore the offender will now be killed in full public view.