Shloka 50
अम्बा–राम–भीष्म संवादः
Amba–Rama–Bhishma Dialogue on Vow and Refuge
गुरुं न हन्यां समरे ब्राह्मणं च विशेषत: । विशेषतस्तपोवृद्धमेवं क्षान्तं मया तव
guruṁ na hanyāṁ samare brāhmaṇaṁ ca viśeṣataḥ | viśeṣatas tapovṛddham evaṁ kṣāntaṁ mayā tava ||
ಸಮರದಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನು ನನ್ನ ಗುರುವನ್ನೇ ಕೊಲ್ಲುವುದಿಲ್ಲ—ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣನನ್ನು ಎಂದರೆ ಇನ್ನೂ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಅದರ ಮೇಲೂ ನೀನು ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಮಹಾನ್ ಆಗಿರುವೆ. ಇದನ್ನೇ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ನಿನ್ನ ಕಠೋರ ವರ್ತನೆಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ಇಷ್ಟರವರೆಗೆ ಮೌನವಾಗಿ ಸಹಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic restraint in violence: even in warfare, one must recognize moral boundaries—here, the inviolability of one’s guru and the special sanctity accorded to a brāhmaṇa, particularly one advanced in tapas. It also elevates kṣānti (forbearance) as an ethical response to provocation.
Rāma explains why he has not retaliated against his opponent’s harsh behavior: the opponent is his guru and a brāhmaṇa, renowned for austerity. Because of this relationship and status, Rāma considers killing him in battle improper and therefore has silently endured the mistreatment.