Shloka 203
Udyoga-parva Adhyāya 3 — Sātyaki on Inner Disposition, Legitimacy, and Coercive Readiness
अधर्म्यमयशस्यं च शात्रवाणां प्रयाचनम् । आततायी शत्रुओंका वध करनेमें कोई पाप नहीं शत्रुओंके सामने याचना करना ही अधर्म और अपयशकी बात है
adharmyam ayaśasyaṃ ca śātravāṇāṃ prayācanam | ātatāyī śatrūṇāṃ vadhe karaṇe na kaścid doṣaḥ; śatrūṇāṃ sammukhe yācanā eva adharmaḥ ayaśasyaṃ ca ||
Вайшампаяна сказал: «Умолять врагов или вымаливать у них мир — и адхарма, и позор. Когда противник — ātatāyin, безудержный агрессор, нападающий без меры, — в убийстве такого врага нет нравственной вины; адхармой и бесчестьем становится именно мольба перед ним.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two ethical stances: pleading before hostile enemies is portrayed as adharma and a source of disgrace, while resisting—and even killing—an ātatāyin (a violent aggressor) is treated as morally blameless within the dharma framework, especially in a kṣatriya context.
In the Udyoga Parva’s lead-up to war, the narration frames the moral logic of conflict: when opponents behave as ruthless aggressors, seeking mercy from them is condemned as dishonorable, and decisive action against them is justified as duty rather than sin.