Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
पूजन्युवाच यस्येह व्रणिनौ पादौ पद्भ्यां च परिसर्पति । खन््येते तस्य तौ पादौ सुगुप्तमिह धावत:
pūjany uvāca yasyeha vraṇinau pādau padbhyāṃ ca parisarpati | khanyete tasya tau pādau sugupatam iha dhāvataḥ ||
普阇尼说道:“大王,若一人的双足已受伤,却仍用这双脚继续行走,那么无论他走得多么谨慎——只要他还在世间奔走忙碌,那双脚就会一次又一次地再受伤。”
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
A person should not persist in the very course of action that keeps aggravating an existing harm; even careful continuation of a harmful pattern tends to reopen wounds. The verse urges restraint and a change of conduct rather than merely ‘managing’ damage.
Pūjanī addresses a king and uses a vivid analogy: someone with wounded feet who still keeps moving with them will inevitably suffer repeated injury. The image functions as counsel—warning the ruler about the futility of continuing a damaging pursuit even with caution.