Shloka 10
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga
यस्य राष्ट्रे प्रजा: सर्वास्त्रस्यन्ते साध्व्यसाधुभि: । तस्य मत्तस्य नश्यन्ति कीर्तिरायुर्भगो गति: ॥ १० ॥ एष राज्ञां परो धर्मो ह्यार्तानामार्तिनिग्रह: । अत एनं वधिष्यामि भूतद्रुहमसत्तमम् ॥ ११ ॥
yasya rāṣṭre prajāḥ sarvās trasyante sādhvy asādhubhiḥ tasya mattasya naśyanti kīrtir āyur bhago gatiḥ
ಹೇ ಸಾಧ್ವಿಯೇ, ದುಷ್ಟರಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲ್ಲ ಪ್ರಜೆಗಳು ಭಯಪಡುವುದಾದರೆ ಆ ರಾಜನ ಕೀರ್ತಿ, ಆಯುಷ್ಯ, ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಶುಭಗತಿ ನಾಶವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಪೀಡಿತರ ದುಃಖವನ್ನು ಮೊದಲು ನಿಗ್ರಹಿಸುವುದೇ ರಾಜರ ಪರಮಧರ್ಮ; ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಾಣಿದ್ರೋಹಿಯಾದ ಈ ಅಧಮನನ್ನು ನಾನು ಸಂಹರಿಸುವೆನು.
When there is some disturbance caused by wild animals in a village or town, the police or others take action to kill them. Similarly, it is the duty of the government to kill at once all bad social elements such as thieves, dacoits and murderers. The same punishment is also due to animal killers because the animals of the state are also the prajā. Prajā means one who has taken birth in the state, and this includes both men and animals. Any living being who takes birth in a state has the primary right to live under the protection of the king. The jungle animals are also subject to the king, and they also have a right to live. So what to speak of domestic animals like the cows and bulls.
FAQs
This verse states that when citizens are oppressed, the negligent ruler’s fame, lifespan, fortune, and future destination are destroyed.
He is confronting adharma manifesting as Kali and is establishing the royal duty of protecting subjects from fear and injustice.
Leadership—at home, work, or society—must prioritize protection, fairness, and accountability; negligence that allows harassment harms both the community and the leader.