Shloka 16
Chapter 59: Baladeva’s Censure, Keśava’s Restraint, and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Moral Accounting
मा शिरोअस्य पदा मार्दीर्मा धर्मस्तेडतिगो भवेत् | राजा ज्ञातिहतश्नायं नैतन्नन््याय्यं तवानघ
sañjaya uvāca |
mā śiro 'sya padā mārdīr mā dharmas te 'tigō bhavet |
rājā jñātihataś cāyaṃ naitann anyāyyaṃ tavānagha ||
三阇耶说道：“不要用脚踢踏他的头；不可由你而犯达摩之过。此人既是国王，也是我们已被杀的亲族。既然他已死，清白无瑕者啊，如此对待并不相宜。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in victory and anger, one must not violate dharma; humiliating a fallen foe—especially a king and kinsman—is improper. Restraint and respect for the dead are presented as marks of righteous conduct.
After Duryodhana has been slain, someone is about to insult his corpse by kicking his head. Sañjaya intervenes, warning that such an act would be an adharma and unfitting, since the fallen is a king and a relative.