Shloka 41
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
व्यद्भत्वं व शरीरस्य वधो नाल््पस्य कारणात् । शरीरपीडास्तास्ताश्च देहत्यागो विवासनम्
vyadbhutvaṃ ca śarīrasya vadho nālpasya kāraṇāt | śarīrapīḍās tāstāś ca dehatyāgo vivāsanam ||
वसूहरोमा म्हणाले—लहानशा अपराधासाठी कोणाचे अंगभंग करणे, त्याला ठार मारणे, नानाविध देहयातना देणे, प्राणत्यागास विवश करणे किंवा देशाबाहेर हाकलणे—हे कधीही योग्य नाही. दंड अपराधाच्या प्रमाणात व मानवी असावा, विशेषतः प्रजापालनात।
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment should be proportionate to the offence; for minor faults, extreme penalties—mutilation, execution, torture, coercing death, or banishment—are unethical and contrary to righteous governance.
In the Shanti Parva’s rājadharma discussion, Vasuharoma articulates a standard for kings and rulers: they must not respond to small transgressions with harsh, violent punishments that destroy a subject’s body, life, or livelihood.