Shloka 41
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
व्यद्भत्वं व शरीरस्य वधो नाल््पस्य कारणात् । शरीरपीडास्तास्ताश्च देहत्यागो विवासनम्
vyadbhutvaṃ ca śarīrasya vadho nālpasya kāraṇāt | śarīrapīḍās tāstāś ca dehatyāgo vivāsanam ||
ヴァスハローマは言った。「些細な罪のために人の身体を切り刻んだり、命を奪ったりしてはならぬ。さまざまな肉体の責め苦を加え、死を選ばざるを得ぬところまで追い詰めたり、国土から追放したりするのも正しくない。刑罰は罪に釣り合い、しかも人道にかなうべきである。とりわけ民を治める者においては。」
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment should be proportionate to the offence; for minor faults, extreme penalties—mutilation, execution, torture, coercing death, or banishment—are unethical and contrary to righteous governance.
In the Shanti Parva’s rājadharma discussion, Vasuharoma articulates a standard for kings and rulers: they must not respond to small transgressions with harsh, violent punishments that destroy a subject’s body, life, or livelihood.