Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 10
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
शिष्टं दान्तं कृतज्ञं च प्रियं च सततं मम । न मे विक्रोशतो राजन् हर्तुमहसि कुज्जरम्
bhīṣma uvāca | śiṣṭaṃ dāntaṃ kṛtajñaṃ ca priyaṃ ca satataṃ mama | na me vikrośato rājan hartum arhasi kuñjaram |
ພີດສະມະກ່າວວ່າ: «ຊ້າງນີ້ຝຶກດີ ມີມານະຍາດ ຄວບຄຸມຕົນໄດ້ ຮູ້ຄຸນ ແລະເປັນທີ່ຮັກຂອງຂ້າເຈົ້າເສມອ. ໂອ ພະຣາຊາ, ເຖິງຂ້າເຈົ້າຈະຮ້ອງຄັດຄ້ານ ທ່ານກໍບໍ່ຄວນເອົາຊ້າງນີ້ໄປ».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma as protecting those under one’s care: even an animal that serves faithfully and embodies discipline and gratitude should not be wrongfully seized. Moral fitness (arhasi) is invoked to restrain power with ethical responsibility.
Bhishma addresses a king who is attempting to take an elephant. He protests loudly and argues from the elephant’s virtues—good conduct, self-control, gratitude, and loyal service—urging the king not to remove it.