Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell
राजोवाच नरके मानवाः धर्म पीड्यन्तेऽत्र सहस्रशः ।
त्राहीति चार्ताः क्रन्दन्ति मामतो न व्रजाम्यहम् ॥
rājovāca narake mānavā dharma pīḍyante ’tra sahasraśaḥ |
trāhīti cārtāḥ krandanti mām ato na vrajāmy aham ||
ព្រះមហាក្សត្របាននិយាយថា៖ «នៅនរកនេះ ឱ ធម្មៈ មនុស្សរាប់ពាន់នាក់កំពុងត្រូវទារុណកម្ម។ អ្នកដែលរងទុក្ខស្រែកថា “សង្គ្រោះយើង!” ដូច្នេះ ខ្ញុំនឹងមិនចាកចេញពីទីនេះទេ»។
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True dharma is tested where suffering is visible. The king’s refusal models the ideal ruler as refuge (śaraṇya): he prioritizes the cries of the helpless over his own promised elevation.
Ethical exemplum within narrative (vaṃśānucarita-like). It teaches rāja-dharma and compassion rather than presenting genealogies or cosmic cycles.
Naraka can also indicate inner states of remorse, fear, and contraction. The king’s stance signifies a vow to remain present with collective suffering until transformation occurs—an archetype of salvific leadership.