Shloka 50

Prāyaścitta and Contextual Non-Culpability (प्रायश्चित्त-निमित्त-अदोषवाद)

Devanagari script

अथवा ते घृणा काचित्‌ प्रायश्षित्तं चरिष्यसि । मा त्वेवानार्यजुष्टेन मन्युना निधनं गम:,अथवा यदि तुम्हारे मनमें उन अतीत घटनाओंके कारण कोई घृणा या ग्लानि हो तो उनके लिये प्रायश्चित्त कर लेना। परंतु इस प्रकार अनार्य पुरुषोंद्वारा सेवित खेद या रोषके वशीभूत होकर आत्महत्या न करो

Transliteration

athavā te ghṛṇā kācit prāyaścittaṁ cariṣyasi | mā tv evānāryajuṣṭena manyunā nidhanaṁ gamaḥ ||

Translation

Atau jika masih ada rasa benci atau sesal dalam hatimu kerana peristiwa lampau itu, maka lakukanlah prāyaścitta (penebusan) untuknya. Namun janganlah, di bawah kuasa dukacita atau amarah—perasaan yang dipeluk oleh orang hina—engkau pergi kepada kebinasaan diri (jangan mencari maut).

Word by Word

अथवाor else

तेof you/your

घृणाaversion, disgust

काचित्some (any) (f.)

प्रायश्चित्तम्expiation, penance

चरिष्यसिyou will perform/practice

माdo not (prohibitive)

त्वाyou (as object)

एवindeed, just

अनार्यजुष्टेनby (that) which is resorted to by ignoble men

मन्युनाby anger, wrath

निधनम्death, destruction

गमःgo (i.e., go to death)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

If remorse or aversion arises from past deeds, it should be addressed through prāyaścitta (ethical expiation and reform), not through self-destruction. Anger-driven despair is labeled 'anārya'—unworthy of a noble person—and must not govern one’s actions.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa counsels a distressed listener who is burdened by memories of earlier events. He offers a dharmic remedy—expiation and inner correction—while explicitly warning against yielding to ignoble anger or grief that could lead to choosing death.