Shloka 8
कुम्भकर्णवधः — Kumbhakarṇa’s Fall and the Renewal of the Engagement
अप्येष शत्रो: शरणागतस्य दद्यात् प्राणान् धर्मचारी नृवीर: । परेहोनं मूढ जवेन भूतये त्वमात्मन: प्राउजलिि्न्यस्तशस्त्र:,ये धर्मात्मा नरवीर अपनी शरणमें आये हुए शत्रुको भी प्राणदान दे देते हैं। अरे मूर्ख! यदि तू अपनी भलाई चाहता है तो हथियार नीचे डाल दे और हाथ जोड़कर शीघ्र इनकी शरणमें जा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: apy eṣa śatroḥ śaraṇāgatasya dadyāt prāṇān dharmacārī nṛvīraḥ | parehōnaṃ mūḍha javena bhūtaye tvam ātmanaḥ prāñjalir nyastaśastraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Even this righteous warrior, steadfast in dharma, would grant life to an enemy who has come seeking refuge. Therefore, O fool, if you desire your own welfare, quickly lay down your weapons and, with joined hands, go to his protection.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A central dharmic norm is affirmed: a truly righteous warrior protects even an enemy who surrenders and seeks refuge. Laying down arms and approaching with humility transforms the moral status of the opponent into a protected suppliant.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana, narrating) describes a warrior renowned for dharma and urges someone addressed as “mūḍha” to save himself by immediately disarming and going with folded hands to seek that warrior’s shelter, since such a person would spare a surrendered foe.