Shloka 25
शान्ति पर्व (अध्याय 38): युधिष्ठिरस्य राजधर्म-जिज्ञासा तथा भीष्मोपसर्पण-प्रस्तावना | Shanti Parva Chapter 38: Yudhishthira’s Inquiry into Rajadharma and the Prelude to Approaching Bhishma
स दुष्ट: पापमाशंसु: पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् | अनामन्त्र्यैव तान् विप्रांस्तमुवाच महीपतिम्
sa duṣṭaḥ pāpam āśaṃsuḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām | anāmantryaiva tān viprāṃs tam uvāca mahīpatim, rājendra |
Wahai raja, si durjana itu mendambakan dosa dan menginginkan kejatuhan para Pāṇḍava yang berhati luhur. Meski dikelilingi lebih dari seribu brāhmaṇa—para pertapa yang tekun dalam tapa dan disiplin, siap memberi berkat—tanpa meminta persetujuan mereka sedikit pun, ia berbicara kepada Raja Yudhiṣṭhira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical lapse: acting and speaking without seeking due consent (anāmantrya) and being driven by harmful intent (pāpam āśaṃsuḥ). It contrasts the presence of righteous ascetics with the persistence of malice, implying that dharmic procedure and intention both matter.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a wicked being, wishing harm to the Pāṇḍavas, is surrounded by many brāhmaṇas engaged in austerity and discipline. Despite their presence, he bypasses them and directly speaks to King Yudhiṣṭhira without asking the brāhmaṇas’ permission.