Shloka 15
Chapter 59: Baladeva’s Censure, Keśava’s Restraint, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Moral Accounting
गतो<सि वैरस्यानृण्यं प्रतिज्ञा पूरिता त्वया । शुभेनाथाशुभेनैव कर्मणा विरमाधुना,'भीम! तुम वैरसे उऋण हुए। तुमने शुभ या अशुभ कर्मसे अपनी प्रतिज्ञा पूरी कर ली। अब तो इस कार्यसे विरत हो जाओ
sañjaya uvāca | gato 'si vairasyānṛṇyaṃ pratijñā pūritā tvayā | śubhenāthāśubhenaiva karmaṇā viramādhunā ||
Sañjaya thưa: “Hỡi Bhīma, nay ngươi đã trả xong món nợ thù hận; lời thệ nguyện của ngươi đã được hoàn thành. Dù bằng hành vi được xem là cát tường hay bất tường, ngươi đã làm trọn điều đã hứa—giờ hãy dừng tay khỏi việc ấy.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a vow of vengeance has been carried out, one should recognize the moral ambiguity of the act (śubha/aśubha) and practice restraint thereafter; fulfilling a pledge does not justify continuing violence beyond its stated end.
Sañjaya addresses Bhīma, stating that Bhīma has completed his pledged act and is now ‘free of the debt’ of hostility; therefore, Sañjaya urges him to stop and not proceed further in the same violent course.