Shloka 32

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

अभिशस्तमपि होषां कृपायीत विशाम्पते । ब्रह्मघ्ने गुरुतल्ये च भ्रूणहत्ये तथैव च

Transliteration

abhiśastam api hoṣāṃ kṛpāyīta viśāmpate | brahmaghne gurutalye ca bhrūṇahatye tathaiva ca ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「民の主よ、たとえ公然と告発され汚名を負う者であっても、慈悲をもって遇すべきである。婆羅門殺し、師の床を汚すこと（師の妻との姦通）、胎児殺しのような事においてさえ、統治者は性急に身体刑へ走ってはならぬ。ここに示される王の裁きの要は、抑制と憐れみであり、とりわけ婆羅門に対しては、身体を害するより追放が示されている。」

Word by Word

• अभिशस्तम्: one who is accused/denounced
• अभिशस्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिशस्त (ppp of अभि-शंस्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• होषम्: a sinner/offender (one deserving punishment)
• होषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: होष (noun)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृपायीत: should show compassion
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृप् (denom. कृपाय्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• विशाम्: of the people/subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (people/subjects)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ब्रह्मघ्ने: in the case of a Brahmin-slayer (brahmahatyā)
• ब्रह्मघ्ने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मघ्न
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• गुरुतल्ये: in the offence of violating the guru’s bed (adultery with teacher’s wife)
• गुरुतल्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुतल्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भ्रूणहत्ये: in foeticide (killing an embryo)
• भ्रूणहत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रूणहत्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• तथा: likewise/so
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• viśāmpati (the king/ruler)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal justice should be tempered by compassion; even grave offenders—especially Brahmins—are not to be subjected to bodily punishment, with expulsion presented as the restrained, dharmic response.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva discourse on rajadharma, Bhishma instructs the king on how to administer punishment, emphasizing mercy and limits on physical penalties even for severe transgressions.