Shloka 9
आशगया हाभिपन्नानामकृत्वाश्रुप्रमार्जनम् । राजा वा राजपुत्रो वा भ्रूणहत्यैव युज्यते,जो आशा लगाकर अपनी शरणमें आये हों, उनके आँसू जो नहीं पोंछता है, वह राजा हो या राजकुमार, उसे भ्रूणहत्याका पाप लगता है
āśayā hi abhipannānām akṛtvā aśru-pramārjanam | rājā vā rāja-putro vā bhrūṇa-hatyāy eva yujyate ||
Aquele que não enxuga as lágrimas dos que, depositando nele a esperança, vêm buscar refúgio—seja rei ou príncipe—incorre em culpa tão grave quanto o pecado de matar um ser ainda não nascido.
नाग उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma is to protect and console those who come seeking refuge with hope; neglecting their suffering is treated as an extremely grave sin, likened to bhrūṇa-hatyā.
In a didactic exchange within Śānti Parva, the Nāga speaker states a moral principle of rājadharma: kings and princes are accountable for the welfare of supplicants, and failure to relieve their distress brings severe culpability.