Shloka 89
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
इमं क्षितितले त्यक्त्वा बाल॑ रूपसमन्वितम्
imaṃ kṣititale tyaktvā bāla-rūpa-samanvitam | yaḥ sundaraḥ bālakaḥ tumhāre kulakī śobhā baḍhāne-vālā hai | ayaṃ rūpa-yauvanena sampannaḥ tathā svayā kāntyā prakāśitaḥ | mūrkhāḥ! asya putrasya pṛthivyāṃ nikṣepya yūyaṃ kva gamiṣyatha?
Sinabi ni Jambuka: “Matapos ninyong ihagis sa lupa ang batang ito—na may anyo ng isang munting lalaki—saan ninyo inaakalang makararating kayo? Ang magandang batang ito ang magdaragdag ng dangal sa inyong angkan. Taglay niya ang ganda at kabataan, at nagniningning sa sarili niyang liwanag. O mga hangal! Pagkatapos itapon ang anak na ito sa lupa, anong kanlungan o patutunguhan pa ang maiaangkin ninyo?”
जम्बुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns abandoning a helpless child and frames such an act as a grave ethical failure. It emphasizes dharma as protection of the vulnerable and warns that those who commit cruelty cannot claim a righteous destination or refuge.
Jambuka rebukes people who have thrown a radiant, promising boy onto the ground. He highlights the child’s beauty and potential to bring honor to the family, and challenges the perpetrators by asking where they expect to go after committing such a heartless act.