Shloka 35
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
अथ प्रथमकल्पेन सत्यवन् संकरो भवेत् | आयु: शक्ति च कालं॑ च निर्दिश्य तप आदिशेत्
atha prathamakalpena satyavān saṅkaro bhavet | āyuḥ śaktiṃ ca kālaṃ ca nirdiśya tapa ādiśet |
Sinabi ni Humatsena: “Pagkaraan, sa unang paraan (at pinakamaamo), maging ang isang tulad ni Satyavān ay maaaring mahulog sa magulong paghahalo ng tama at mali. Kaya, matapos isaalang-alang ang haba ng buhay, lakas, at kalagayan ng panahon ng nagkasala, dapat itakda ng hari ang nararapat na disiplina ng parusa.”
हुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment should be proportionate and context-sensitive: the ruler must weigh the offender’s age/lifespan, strength/capacity, and the time/circumstances, and then prescribe a corrective discipline (tapas) that prevents a harmful mixing of dharma and adharma.
Humatsena is instructing on rajadharma (the king’s duty of governance). He warns that even a ‘Satyavān’ can slip into moral confusion, so the king must respond with measured, appropriate punishment after assessing relevant personal and situational factors.