Shloka 6
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 23: Report of the Slain Sūtaputras, Royal Orders, and Sairandhrī’s Return
अथवा नैव हन्तव्या दहाुतां कामिना सह | मृतस्यापि प्रियं कार्य सूतपुत्रस्य सर्वथा
athavā naiva hantavyā dahyutāṃ kāminā saha | mṛtasyāpi priyaṃ kāryaṃ sūtaputrasya sarvathā ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ou bien, qu’on ne la tue pas ; qu’on la brûle avec le cadavre de Kīcaka, l’homme dévoré de désir. Même pour un mort, tout ce qui est cher au fils du cocher doit être accompli en toute manière, afin d’apaiser son esprit.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects a pragmatic ethical stance: even when dealing with wrongdoing and death, actions are weighed against social and ritual expectations—doing what is considered ‘pleasing’ or proper for the deceased (here, Kīcaka) is presented as a duty, suggesting how dharma can be framed through custom, reputation, and expediency.
In the aftermath of Kīcaka’s death, a proposal is voiced: instead of killing the woman in question, she should be cremated along with Kīcaka’s body, and whatever is deemed dear to the ‘charioteer’s son’ (Kīcaka) should be carried out fully—indicating attempts to manage the situation through funerary action and appeasement.