Shloka 23
Adhyāya 45 — Duryodhana’s Distress, Śakuni’s Counsel, and the Summons for Dyūta
शृण्वन्तु मे महीपाला येनैतत् क्षमितं मया । अपराधशकतं क्षाम्यं मातुरस्यैव याचने
śṛṇvantu me mahīpālā yenaitat kṣamitaṃ mayā | aparādhaśataṃ kṣāmyaṃ mātur asyaiva yācane |
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Makinig ang lahat ng mga hari sa akin at unawain kung bakit ko tiniis at pinatawad ang taong ito hanggang ngayon. Sa pakiusap ng sarili niyang ina, ipinagkaloob ko ang biyaya na patatawarin ko ang sandaang pagkakasala ni Śiśupāla. O mga pinuno, ngayo’y naganap na ang bilang na iyon; kaya sa harap ninyong lahat, papatayin ko siya ngayon din.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical tension between compassion and justice: forgiveness can be offered out of respect for a legitimate plea (here, a mother’s request) and bound by a vow, but persistent wrongdoing eventually exhausts the limits of forbearance, after which punishment becomes a duty carried out transparently before the community.
In the royal assembly, Śiśupāla has repeatedly insulted and offended. The speaker explains to the gathered kings that these offenses were previously pardoned because of a boon granted to Śiśupāla’s mother—pardon of one hundred offenses. Now that the count is complete, the speaker declares that Śiśupāla will be slain immediately in the presence of all.