Shloka 13
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
शून्ये च तमुपादाय पक्षिणं समजातकम् | हत्वा ततः स राजेन्द्र धात्रया हस्तमुपागत:,राजेन्द्र! अपने साथ ही पैदा हुए उस पक्षीको सूने स्थानमें ले जाकर राजकुमारने मार डाला और मारकर वह धायकी गोदमें जा बैठा
śūnye ca tam upādāya pakṣiṇaṃ samajātakam | hatvā tataḥ sa rājendra dhātryā hastam upāgataḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Wahai raja, sang pangeran membawa burung itu—yang lahir pada waktu yang sama dengannya—ke tempat sepi, lalu membunuhnya. Setelah membunuhnya, ia kembali dan duduk di pangkuan inangnya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethically troubling act—killing a helpless creature in secrecy—and implicitly points to the need for restraint, compassion, and proper moral formation in those destined to rule.
Bhīṣma narrates that a prince takes a bird (described as born together with him) to a lonely place, kills it, and then returns to sit with the nurse—showing the act was done away from witnesses and followed by a return to ordinary domestic comfort.