Shloka 90
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
कुलशोभाकर ं मूढा: पुत्र॑ त्यक्त्वा क्व यास्यथ । रूपयौवनसम्पन्नं द्योतमानमिव श्रिया
kulaśobhākaraṃ mūḍhāḥ putraṃ tyaktvā kva yāsyatha | rūpayauvanasampannaṃ dyotamānam iva śriyā ||
जम्बूक म्हणाला: अरे मूर्खांनो! कुलाची शोभा वाढवणाऱ्या या पुत्राला टाकून तुम्ही कुठे जाणार? तो रूप-यौवनाने संपन्न असून जणू श्रीसमृद्धीच्या प्रकाशानेच उजळतो आहे।
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
One must not abandon those under one’s care—especially a child. Dharma requires protection, compassion, and responsibility toward dependents; discarding them is condemned as delusion and moral failure.
Jambuka addresses people who have thrown away a child, scolding them and pointing out the child’s worth and auspiciousness. The verse functions as a sharp ethical rebuke meant to awaken conscience and restore proper conduct.