Shloka 20
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
इत्युक्त्वा चरणाभ्यां तु नेत्रे नूपसुतस्य सा । भित्त्वा स्वस्था तत इदं पूजनी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
ity uktvā caraṇābhyāṃ tu netre nūpasutasya sā | bhittvā svasthā tata idaṃ pūjanī vākyam abravīt ||
ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞിട്ട് ആ പൂജനീയ സ്ത്രീ തന്റെ പാദങ്ങളാൽ രാജപുത്രന്റെ രണ്ടു കണ്ണുകളും തകർത്തു. പിന്നെ സ്വസ്ഥചിത്തയായി, ആദരത്തോടെ കേൾക്കേണ്ട ഈ വാക്കുകൾ അവൾ പറഞ്ഞു.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes severe punishment with inner composure: the act is portrayed as intentional and morally framed, highlighting that ethical judgment in the epic often turns not only on what is done, but on the agent’s resolve, purpose, and the subsequent articulation of justification.
After speaking, an unnamed venerable woman uses her feet to destroy the eyes of a king’s son; immediately afterward, she remains calm and delivers a statement described as ‘worthy of reverence,’ indicating that her next words will explain or morally ground the drastic action.