Shloka 23
Ruru’s Lament and the Lifespan Exchange for Pramadvarā (रुरु–प्रमद्वरा आयुर्विभागः)
नापराध्यामि ते किज्चिदहमद्य तपोधन । संरम्भाच्च किमर्थ मामभिहंसि रुषान्वित:,“तपोधन! आज मैंने तुम्हारा कोई अपराध तो नहीं किया है? फिर किसलिये क्रोधके आवेशमें आकर तुम मुझे मार रहे हो'
nāparādhyāmi te kiñcid aham adya tapodhana | saṃrambhāc ca kimarthaṃ mām abhihāṃsi ruṣānvitāḥ ||
Dharmarāja said: “O ascetic rich in austerity, today I have committed no offense against you at all. Why then, seized by a sudden surge of anger, do you strike at me?”
धर्मराज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic self-examination and restraint: before resorting to violence, one should verify whether an offense truly occurred, and recognize anger (saṃrambha) as a destabilizing force that leads to unjust action.
Dharmarāja addresses an enraged ascetic who is attacking him, asserting his innocence and questioning the cause of the assault, thereby framing the conflict as arising from uncontrolled anger rather than a real transgression.