Shloka 53
Kuvalāśva’s Lineage and Uttaṅka’s Petition concerning Dhundhu (धुन्धु-प्रसङ्गः)
राजोवाच ये त्वां विदुर्ब्राह्मणं वामदेव वाचा हन्तुं मनसा कर्मणा वा | ते त्वां सशिष्यमिह पातयन्तु मद्वाक्यनुन्ना:ःशितशूलासिहस्ता:,राजाने कहा--वामदेवजी! आप ब्राह्मण हैं तो भी मन, वाणी एवं क्रियाद्वारा मुझे मारनेको उद्यत हैं, इसका पता हमारे जिन सेवकोंको चल गया है, वे मेरी आज्ञा पाते ही हाथोंमें तीखे त्रिशूल तथा तलवार लेकर शिष्योंसहित आपको पहले ही यहाँ मार गिरावेंगे
rājovāca ye tvāṁ vidur brāhmaṇaṁ vāmadeva vācā hantuṁ manasā karmaṇā vā | te tvāṁ saśiṣyam iha pātayantu madvākya-nunnāḥ śitaśūlāsi-hastāḥ ||
The king said: “O Vāmadeva, those of my men who have learned that you—though a brāhmaṇa—are intent on killing me by speech, by thought, or by deed, will, the moment they are urged by my command, strike you down here together with your disciples, weapons in hand—sharp tridents and swords.”
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: a brāhmaṇa is expected to embody restraint, while a king asserts coercive power to protect himself. It frames how perceived intent—whether by speech, thought, or action—can provoke punitive authority, raising ethical questions about proportionality and the limits of royal force against a sage.
A king addresses the sage Vāmadeva, claiming that his servants have learned Vāmadeva intends to kill him in some manner. The king warns that, on his command, armed men will strike Vāmadeva down on the spot, even along with his disciples, using tridents and swords.