Shloka 53
उत्पातवर्णनम् (Utpāta-varṇanam) — Catalogue of Portents
धर्म्य देशय पन्थानं समर्थों ह्सि वारणे । क्षुद्रे जातिवरध॑ प्राहुर्मा कुरुष्व ममाप्रियम्
dharmaṃ deśaya panthānaṃ samartho 'si vāraṇe | kṣudre jātivadhāḥ prāhur mā kuruṣva mamāpriyam ||
“Ajarkanlah jalan yang benar menurut dharma; engkau mampu menahan mereka. Membunuh kaum sendiri dinyatakan sebagai perbuatan paling hina; hal itu sangat tidak berkenan bagiku. Jangan lakukan perbuatan yang kubenci ini.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
One who has influence must actively guide others toward dharma and prevent wrongdoing; violence against one’s own kin is portrayed as especially blameworthy and should be avoided.
In the war-context of Bhīṣma-parvan, a speaker urges a powerful figure to counsel and restrain his own side, warning that clan-killing is a disgraceful act and personally intolerable.