Shloka 6
Vāmadeva’s Rājadharma: Norm-Setting, Counsel, and the Prevention of Rāṣṭra-Vināśa (वामदेव-प्रोक्तं राजधर्मम्)
द्विषन्तं कृतकल्याणं गृहीत्वा नृपतिं रणे । यो न मानयते द्वेषात क्षत्रधर्मादपैति सः
dviṣantaṃ kṛtakalyāṇaṃ gṛhītvā nṛpatiṃ raṇe | yo na mānayate dveṣāt kṣatradharmād apaiti saḥ ||
Захватив в бою царя, враждебного ему, но оказавшего ему некогда пользу или добрую услугу, тот, кто из ненависти отказывается воздать ему честь, отпадает от дхармы кшатрия.
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kṣatriya must uphold honor and fairness even toward an enemy; if the enemy has done one good turn, hatred should not erase gratitude or proper respect. Letting personal malice govern one’s conduct is a deviation from kṣatriya-dharma.
Vāmadeva states a rule of conduct for warriors: when a king is captured in battle, the captor should not, out of sheer hatred, deny him due honor—especially if that enemy had previously done some good. The verse frames this as a test of adherence to the warrior code.