Shloka 25
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
अड़़् मामन्ववेक्षस्व राजन्याय बुभूषते । यथा प्रमुच्यते त्वन्यो यदर्थ न प्रमोदते
aḍ māmanvavekṣasva rājanyāya bubhūṣate | yathā pramucyate tv anyo yadartha na pramodate, vatsa yudhiṣṭhira |
Wahai Yudhisthira, anakku—pandanglah aku, lihatlah apa yang telah kulakukan. Terhadap para raja kshatriya yang mendambakan kedaulatan atas bumi, aku bertindak sedemikian rupa sehingga mereka terlepas dari belenggu dunia—dengan menumbangkan mereka dalam pertempuran dan mengantar mereka ke surga. Walau orang lain tidak menyetujui perbuatanku dan mencelaku sebagai kejam dan penuh kekerasan, aku tidak meninggalkan dharmaku. Demikian pula engkau, teguhlah berdiri di jalan kewajibanmu sendiri.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges steadfastness in svadharma: even if one’s duty appears harsh and attracts public blame, a kshatriya must act according to ordained responsibility, with the intention of upholding order rather than seeking personal pleasure or approval.
In the Shanti Parva dialogue, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on kingship and duty. Here he points to his own life as an example: he fought and killed rival warrior-kings, interpreting that act within the kshatriya framework as enabling their heavenly destiny, and he tells Yudhishthira to remain firm in his own royal obligations despite criticism.