Shloka 4
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
नियच्छैनां मतिं राजन् धर्मार्थसुखनाशिनीम् | यशःप्रतापवीर्यघ्नीं शत्रूणां हर्षवर्धनीम्
niyacchaināṁ matiṁ rājan dharmārthasukhanāśinīm | yaśaḥpratāpavīryaghnīṁ śatrūṇāṁ harṣavardhanīm ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô roi, retiens cette intention qui est la tienne. Elle détruit le dharma, la prospérité et le bonheur ; elle tue la renommée, la majesté et la vaillance ; et elle ne fait qu’accroître la joie de tes ennemis.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must restrain self-destructive impulses: such thoughts undermine dharma (moral order), artha (welfare and stability), and sukha (well-being), while also eroding honor and courage and giving satisfaction to adversaries.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king who is entertaining a self-harming or ruinous resolve. He urges the king to check that intention because it would damage his righteous standing and royal strength and would embolden and please his enemies.