Shloka 54
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
मा च ते निघ्नतः शत्रून मन्युर्भवतु पार्थिव । न तत्र किल्बिषं किंचित् कर्तुर्भवीति भारत
mā ca te nighnataḥ śatrūn manyur bhavatu pārthiva | na tatra kilbiṣaṃ kiñcit kartur bhavīti bhārata || rājan! śatrūṇāṃ vadhaṃ kurvataḥ samaye tava manasi dīnatā nāgantavyā | bhārata! śatrūṇāṃ vadhaṃ kṛtvā kartari kaścid api pāpa-doṣo na lipyate ||
Wahai raja, ketika engkau menumpas musuh, jangan biarkan kemurungan atau celaan diri timbul dalam hatimu. Wahai Bharata, dalam pembinasaan musuh, tiada noda dosa melekat pada pelakunya.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna frames enemy-slaying, when performed as rightful royal/warrior duty, as ethically non-culpable: the agent should not fall into dejection or self-condemnation, and no moral stain (kilbiṣa) is said to attach in that context.
Arjuna addresses a king (pārthiva, rājan), urging him to act decisively against enemies without inner collapse or remorse, asserting that such action—under the rubric of duty—does not incur sin for the doer.