Shloka 63
पापात्म-धर्मात्म-लक्षणम् तथा निर्वेदेन मोक्षमार्गः | Marks of the Sinful and the Righteous; Dispassion (Nirveda) as a Path to Liberation
हन्या इति समादेश: शस्त्रपाणौ सुते स्थिते । विनीते प्रसवत्यर्थे विवासे चात्मकर्मसु
hanyā iti samādeśaḥ śastrapāṇau sute sthite | vinīte prasavatyarthe vivāse cātmakarmasu ||
Bhishma dit : Bien que l’ordre fût : « Tue-la ! », et que le fils de Gautama se tînt là, l’arme à la main, il ne se précipita pas dans la violence. Lorsque le sage sortit pour accomplir des devoirs nécessaires, tels que le japa et la méditation, le fils—Chirakārin, fidèle à son nom—demeura maître de lui et pensif, examinant ce qui était juste en cette affaire. Par son humilité et sa délibération, l’ordre de tuer sa mère ne put être exécuté, et sa vie fut sauvegardée.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a command to punish seems authoritative, one must pause and examine dharma. Chirakārin’s restraint shows that self-control and moral deliberation can avert irreversible harm; obedience is not higher than righteous discernment.
Gautama, leaving for his personal religious duties (such as japa and meditation), has issued an order—‘Kill her.’ His son stands armed but, being disciplined and thoughtful, delays and reflects. Because of this delay and ethical consideration, the mother is not killed.