Shloka 19
Āraṇyaka-parva Adhyāya 199: Dharmavyādha on Svakarma, Vidhi, and the Limits of Ahiṃsā
अथास्य मृगयमाणस्य कक्षिदाचष्ट एष ते ब्राह्मणो नगरं प्रविश्य दहति ते गृहं कोशागारमायुधागारं स्त्रयगारमश्वशालां हस्तिशालां च क्रुद्ध इति,“खोज करते समय किसी मनुष्यने उनके पास आकर कहा--राजन्! आपका ब्राह्मण इधर है। यह नगरमें प्रवेश करके आपके भवन, कोषागार, शस्त्रागार, अन्तःपुर, अश्वशाला और गजशाला सबमें कुपित होकर आग लगा रहा है”
athāsya mṛgayamāṇasya kakṣid ācaṣṭa eṣa te brāhmaṇo nagaraṃ praviśya dahati te gṛhaṃ kośāgāram āyudhāgāraṃ strīyagāram aśvaśālāṃ hastiśālāṃ ca kruddha iti
Ketika baginda sedang mencari, seseorang datang melapor: “Wahai Raja, Brahmin tuanku ada di sini. Setelah memasuki kota dalam kemarahan, dia sedang membakar kediaman tuanku, perbendaharaan, gedung senjata, ruang wanita (istana dalam), kandang kuda, dan rumah gajah.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Unchecked anger and disrespect toward dharma-bearing figures (here, a Brahmin) can escalate into widespread destruction; the king’s dharma is to prevent harm, address grievances justly, and restore order without compounding violence.
While the king is away hunting, a messenger reports that an enraged Brahmin has entered the city and is burning key royal establishments—residence, treasury, armoury, inner quarters, and animal stables—creating an urgent crisis demanding the king’s response.