Shloka 25
कपोत-लुब्धकसंवादः — Hunter’s Remorse and Renunciatory Resolve
अड़़् मामन्ववेक्षस्व राजन्याय बुभूषते । यथा प्रमुच्यते त्वन्यो यदर्थ न प्रमोदते
aḍ māmanvavekṣasva rājanyāya bubhūṣate | yathā pramucyate tv anyo yadartha na pramodate, vatsa yudhiṣṭhira |
ビーシュマは言った。「我を見よ、王よ——我が何をなしたかを見よ。大地の王権を渇望する刹帝利の諸王に対し、我は彼らが世の束縛から解き放たれるように振る舞った。すなわち戦場で討ち倒し、天界へ送ったのだ。人々はこれを是とせず、我を残酷で暴虐だと非難したが、我は義務を捨てなかった。同じく汝も、自らのダルマの道に堅く立て。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma urges steadfastness in svadharma: even if one’s duty appears harsh and attracts public blame, a kshatriya must act according to ordained responsibility, with the intention of upholding order rather than seeking personal pleasure or approval.
In the Shanti Parva dialogue, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on kingship and duty. Here he points to his own life as an example: he fought and killed rival warrior-kings, interpreting that act within the kshatriya framework as enabling their heavenly destiny, and he tells Yudhishthira to remain firm in his own royal obligations despite criticism.