Shloka 94
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
त॑ं प्रजासु विधर्माणं रागद्वेषवशानुगम् । मन्त्रपूतै: कुशैर्जष्नुरऋषयो ब्रह्म॒वादिन:,वेन राग-द्वेषके वशीभूत हो प्रजाओंपर अत्याचार करने लगा। तब वेदवादी ऋषियोंने मन्त्रपूत कुशोंद्वारा उसे मार डाला
taṁ prajāsu vidharmāṇaṁ rāgadveṣavaśānugam | mantrapūtaiḥ kuśair jaghnur ṛṣayo brahmavādinaḥ ||
“Ang taong iyon, na gumagawa ng di-matuwid sa kanyang mga nasasakupan at inalipin ng pagnanasa at poot, ay pinaslang ng mga pantas na tagapagpahayag ng Veda sa pamamagitan ng mga talim na damong kuśa na pinalakas ng mga banal na mantra.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler who abandons dharma and oppresses the people under the influence of attachment and hatred forfeits moral legitimacy; safeguarding society may require decisive restraint or punishment by those committed to dharma.
Bhishma describes how the sages, seeing the king (Vena) behave adharmically toward his subjects and become ruled by rāga and dveṣa, used mantra-consecrated kuśa grass to slay him, stopping his oppression.