Shloka 16
Chapter 59: Baladeva’s Censure, Keśava’s Restraint, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Moral Accounting
मा शिरोअस्य पदा मार्दीर्मा धर्मस्तेडतिगो भवेत् | राजा ज्ञातिहतश्नायं नैतन्नन््याय्यं तवानघ
sañjaya uvāca |
mā śiro 'sya padā mārdīr mā dharmas te 'tigō bhavet |
rājā jñātihataś cāyaṃ naitann anyāyyaṃ tavānagha ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Jangan hentak atau tendang kepalanya dengan kakimu; jangan sampai engkau melanggar dharma. Orang ini seorang raja, dan juga kerabat kita yang telah terbunuh. Setelah dia mati, wahai yang tidak bercela, perlakuan demikian tidak wajar bagimu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in victory and anger, one must not violate dharma; humiliating a fallen foe—especially a king and kinsman—is improper. Restraint and respect for the dead are presented as marks of righteous conduct.
After Duryodhana has been slain, someone is about to insult his corpse by kicking his head. Sañjaya intervenes, warning that such an act would be an adharma and unfitting, since the fallen is a king and a relative.