Shloka 4
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 180 — Svayaṃvara-Virodha and Pāṇḍava Parākrama
Draupadī Episode
अशिष्टानां नियन्ता हि शिष्टानां परिरक्षिता । स्थाने रोष: प्रयुक्त: स्यान्नूपै: सर्वजिगीषुभि:
aurva uvāca |
aśiṣṭānāṁ niyantā hi śiṣṭānāṁ parirakṣitā |
sthāne roṣaḥ prayuktaḥ syān nṛpaiḥ sarvajigīṣubhiḥ ||
na hi taṁ vārayāmāsa vasiṣṭho rakṣasāṁ vadhāt |
dvitīyām asya mā bhāḍukṣa pratijñām iti niścayāt ||
Aurva berkata: “Amarah yang digunakan pada saat yang tepat—terutama bagi raja-raja yang mendambakan kemenangan atas semua—menjadi kendali bagi yang liar dan perlindungan bagi yang tertib dan saleh.” Karena itu Vasiṣṭha tidak menahannya dari pembantaian para Rākṣasa, setelah berketetapan, “Jangan sampai sumpah keduanya dilanggar.”
ऑर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Anger is not inherently condemned; when governed by dharma and used at the right time, it functions as legitimate royal force—restraining the wicked and safeguarding the righteous—while fidelity to vows remains a binding ethical constraint.
Aurva explains why Vasiṣṭha did not stop the slaying of the rākṣasas: Vasiṣṭha judged the action as timely and protective, and he also chose not to interfere in a way that would make the agent violate a second solemn vow.