Shloka 29
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
आत्मैवादौ नियन्तव्यो दुष्कृतं संनियच्छता । दण्डयेच्च महादण्डैरपि बन्धूननन्तरान्,जो राजा पापकी प्रवृत्तिको रोकना चाहता हो, उसे पहले अपने मनको ही वशमें करना चाहिये। फिर अपने सगे बन्धु-बान्धव भी अपराध करें तो उनको भी भारी-से-भारी दण्ड देना चाहिये
ātmaivādau niyantavyo duṣkṛtaṃ saṃniyacchatā | daṇḍayec ca mahādaṇḍair api bandhūn anantarān |
フマトセーナは言った。「悪を抑えようとする者は、まず己が身を制さねばならぬ。そののち、たとえ最も近い親族が罪を犯しても、彼らをも罰するべきである――最も苛烈な刑罰をもってしてでも。そうしてこそ罪は抑えられ、正義は偏りなく保たれる。」
हुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler who wants to curb sin must begin with self-discipline; only then can he administer justice fairly. True governance requires impartial punishment—even of one’s own relatives—so that law is not weakened by attachment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and kingship, Humat-sena states a principle of rāja-dharma: the king should first master himself and then enforce punishment without favoritism, including against close kin, to prevent the spread of wrongdoing.