Shloka 23
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
शृण्वन्तु मे महीपाला येनैतत् क्षमितं मया । अपराधशकतं क्षाम्यं मातुरस्यैव याचने
śṛṇvantu me mahīpālā yenaitat kṣamitaṃ mayā | aparādhaśataṃ kṣāmyaṃ mātur asyaiva yācane |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「ここに集う諸王よ、我が言葉を聞け。なぜ私は今までこの者の罪を耐え忍び赦してきたのか。彼の母の嘆願により、私は『シシュパーラの百の罪を赦す』という恩寵を与えた。だが諸侯よ、その数はすでに満ちた。ゆえに、汝ら地上の支配者が見守るこの場で、ただちに彼を討つ。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension between compassion and justice: forgiveness can be offered out of respect for a legitimate plea (here, a mother’s request) and bound by a vow, but persistent wrongdoing eventually exhausts the limits of forbearance, after which punishment becomes a duty carried out transparently before the community.
In the royal assembly, Śiśupāla has repeatedly insulted and offended. The speaker explains to the gathered kings that these offenses were previously pardoned because of a boon granted to Śiśupāla’s mother—pardon of one hundred offenses. Now that the count is complete, the speaker declares that Śiśupāla will be slain immediately in the presence of all.