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 ||
Setelah berkata demikian, dia menendang dan memecahkan kedua-dua mata putera raja itu dengan kakinya. Kemudian, dalam keadaan tenang dan menguasai diri, wanita yang mulia itu mengucapkan kata-kata berikut—kata-kata yang wajar didengar dengan penuh hormat—seolah-olah menegaskan bahawa perbuatannya adalah tindak balas moral yang disengajakan, bukan ledakan amarah yang tidak terkawal.
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.