Shloka 3
Virūpākṣa’s Dāna and Gautama’s Burden — the approach of Rājadharma
नृशंसो दह्दाते नित्यं प्रेत्य चेह च भारत । तस्मात् त्वं ब्रूहि कौरव्य तस्य धर्मविनिश्चयम्
nṛśaṃso dahyate nityaṃ pretya ceha ca bhārata | tasmāt tvaṃ brūhi kauravya tasya dharmaviniścayam ||
ஓ பாரதா! ந்ருஷம்ஸன் இவ்வுலகிலும், மரணத்திற்குப் பின் மறுலகிலும் எப்போதும் எரிந்து கொண்டே இருப்பான். ஆகவே, ஓ கௌரவ்யா! அவனுடைய தர்மத்தின் உண்மையான தீர்மானத்தை—அவனது நடத்தை, நெறி—எனக்குச் சொல்வாயாக.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cruelty is self-destructive: the ruthless person suffers continual inner burning—here and after death. Hence one should understand and avoid nṛśaṃsatā (pitilessness) and seek a clear determination of dharma that restrains harm.
In the Śānti Parva’s ethical instruction setting, Yudhiṣṭhira questions an elder teacher about the nature of the cruel person and asks for a definitive account of that person’s dharma/behavioral pattern, motivated by the claim that such a person suffers in both worlds.