Shloka 11
राजधर्मः, दण्डनीतिः, कर्तृत्व-विचारः च
Royal Duty, Lawful Discipline, and the Question of Agency
मया त्ववध्या बहवो घातिता राज्यकारणात् । तानि कर्माणि मे ब्रह्मन् दहन्ति च पचन्ति च,परंतु ब्रह्मन! मैंने तो इस राज्यके लिये अनेक अवध्य पुरुषोंका भी वध करा डाला है। मेरे वे ही कर्म मुझे जलाते और पकाते हैं
mayā tv avadhyā bahavo ghātitā rājyakāraṇāt | tāni karmāṇi me brahman dahanti ca pacanti ca ||
Wika ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Dahil sa paghahari, ako ang nagpasimula ng pagpatay sa marami na hindi dapat pinaslang. Ang mga gawang iyon mismo, O Brahmin, ang ngayo’y nag-aapoy at nagpapahirap sa akin mula sa kalooban.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even actions done for political necessity (rājya) can generate moral injury when they violate dharma—especially the killing of the ‘avadhya’ (those who should not be slain). The verse highlights the inner consequence of karma as remorse that ‘burns’ and ‘torments,’ prompting the search for expiation and right understanding.
After the devastating war, Yudhiṣṭhira speaks to a Brahmin sage, confessing that in pursuit of the kingdom he became the cause of deaths that should not have occurred. He describes his deeds as actively afflicting him, setting the stage for counsel on dharma, peace, and possible atonement.