Shloka 76
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
पूजन्युवाच यस्येह व्रणिनौ पादौ पद्भ्यां च परिसर्पति । खन््येते तस्य तौ पादौ सुगुप्तमिह धावत:
pūjany uvāca yasyeha vraṇinau pādau padbhyāṃ ca parisarpati | khanyete tasya tau pādau sugupatam iha dhāvataḥ ||
पूजनी ने कहा—राजन्! जिसके दोनों पैरों में घाव हो, और फिर भी वह उन्हीं पैरों से चलता रहे, तो चाहे वह कितना ही सँभलकर क्यों न चले—इस संसार में दौड़-धूप करते हुए उसके वे पैर बार-बार घायल होते ही रहेंगे।
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person should not persist in the very course of action that keeps aggravating an existing harm; even careful continuation of a harmful pattern tends to reopen wounds. The verse urges restraint and a change of conduct rather than merely ‘managing’ damage.
Pūjanī addresses a king and uses a vivid analogy: someone with wounded feet who still keeps moving with them will inevitably suffer repeated injury. The image functions as counsel—warning the ruler about the futility of continuing a damaging pursuit even with caution.