Shloka 54
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
मा च ते निघ्नतः शत्रून मन्युर्भवतु पार्थिव । न तत्र किल्बिषं किंचित् कर्तुर्भवीति भारत
mā ca te nighnataḥ śatrūn manyur bhavatu pārthiva | na tatra kilbiṣaṃ kiñcit kartur bhavīti bhārata || rājan! śatrūṇāṃ vadhaṃ kurvataḥ samaye tava manasi dīnatā nāgantavyā | bhārata! śatrūṇāṃ vadhaṃ kṛtvā kartari kaścid api pāpa-doṣo na lipyate ||
اے راجن! دشمنوں کو قتل کرتے وقت تمہارے دل میں نہ کم ہمتی آئے نہ خود ملامتی۔ اے بھارت! دشمنوں کے قتل میں کرنے والے پر کوئی گناہ نہیں لگتا۔
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna frames enemy-slaying, when performed as rightful royal/warrior duty, as ethically non-culpable: the agent should not fall into dejection or self-condemnation, and no moral stain (kilbiṣa) is said to attach in that context.
Arjuna addresses a king (pārthiva, rājan), urging him to act decisively against enemies without inner collapse or remorse, asserting that such action—under the rubric of duty—does not incur sin for the doer.