Shloka 13
अच्छटदटना मायया च मृगाणां वध इष्यते । स एव धर्मों राज्ञां तु तद्धि त्वं कि नु गर्हसे,प्रकट या अप्रकट रूपसे मृगोंका वध हमारे लिये अभीष्ट है। वह राजाओंके लिये धर्म है, फिर तुम उसकी निन्दा कैसे करते हो?
acchaṭadaṭanā māyayā ca mṛgāṇāṁ vadha iṣyate | sa eva dharmo rājñāṁ tu taddhi tvaṁ ki nu garhase ||
“Whether by open pursuit or by stealth and stratagem, the killing of deer is considered permissible. Indeed, for kings this is held to be a duty; why then do you condemn it?”
मृग उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues a contextual ethic: actions like hunting—whether done openly or through stratagem—are defended as part of rājadharma (the king’s sanctioned duties). It frames moral judgment as dependent on social role and accepted norms.
A deer (mṛga) speaks in self-defense or debate, asserting that killing deer is considered legitimate for kings, and challenges the interlocutor for criticizing what is claimed to be established royal duty.