Shloka 9
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
सो5हं तव हान्तकर: सुहृद्वधकरस्तथा । न शान्तिमधिगच्छामि पश्यंस्त्वां दुःखितं क्षितौ
so 'haṃ tava hāntakaraḥ suhṛd-vadhakaraḥ tathā | na śāntim adhigacchāmi paśyaṃs tvāṃ duḥkhitaṃ kṣitau ||
Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Chính ta là kẻ đã đưa ngài đến cái chết, và cũng là kẻ sát hại bao bằng hữu thân thiết khác. Thấy ngài nằm trên đất trong nỗi khổ như vậy, lòng ta không sao được yên.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical burden of violence: even when war is undertaken under the banner of duty, the agent may still experience profound remorse and a loss of inner peace upon witnessing the suffering caused—especially to elders and loved ones.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a grievously afflicted elder lying on the battlefield, confessing that he feels personally responsible for the death and slaughter of dear ones; the sight of the elder’s suffering leaves him unable to find peace.