Shloka 32

राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)

Devanagari script

अभिशस्तमपि होषां कृपायीत विशाम्पते । ब्रह्मघ्ने गुरुतल्ये च भ्रूणहत्ये तथैव च,प्रजानाथ! इनमें कोई कलड्कित हो तो उसपर भी कृपा ही करनी चाहिये। ब्रह्महत्या, गुरुपत्नीगमन, भ्रूणहत्या तथा राजद्रोहका अपराध होनेपर भी ब्राह्मणको देशसे निकाल देनेका ही विधान है--उसे शारीरिक दण्ड कभी नहीं देना चाहिये

Transliteration

abhiśastam api hoṣāṃ kṛpāyīta viśāmpate | brahmaghne gurutalye ca bhrūṇahatye tathaiva ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“人民之主啊，即便有人遭公然指控、蒙受污名，也当以慈悲相待。纵在杀婆罗门、犯师床（与师妻通奸）、杀胎等罪案之中，统治者亦不当急于施以肉刑；此处王法之旨在于克制与仁恕——尤其对婆罗门，所示者为放逐而非加害其身。”

Word by Word

अभिशस्तम्one who is accused/denounced

अपिeven/also

होषम्a sinner/offender (one deserving punishment)

कृपायीतshould show compassion

विशाम्of the people/subjects

पतेO lord

ब्रह्मघ्नेin the case of a Brahmin-slayer (brahmahatyā)

गुरुतल्येin the offence of violating the guru’s bed (adultery with teacher’s wife)

चand

भ्रूणहत्येin foeticide (killing an embryo)

तथाlikewise/so

एवindeed/just

चand

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

viśāmpati (the king/ruler)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Royal justice should be tempered by compassion; even grave offenders—especially Brahmins—are not to be subjected to bodily punishment, with expulsion presented as the restrained, dharmic response.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva discourse on rajadharma, Bhishma instructs the king on how to administer punishment, emphasizing mercy and limits on physical penalties even for severe transgressions.