FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.68.22

యద్ యూయం బహవస్త్వేకం జిత్వాధర్మేణ ధార్మికమ్ । అబధ్నీతాథ తన్మృష్యే బన్ధూనామైక్యకామ్యయా ॥ ౨౨ ॥
yad yūyaṁ bahavas tv ekaṁ
[yad yooyam bahavas tv ekam]
jitvādharmeṇa dhārmikam
[jitvaadharmena dhaarmikam]
abadhnītātha tan mṛṣye
[abadhneetaatha tan mrishye]
bandhūnām aikya-kāmyayā
[bandhoonaam aikya-kaamyayaa]
yat — that yūyam — all of you bahavaḥ — being many tu — but ekam — one person jitvā — defeating adharmeṇa — against religious principles dhārmikam — one who follows religious principles abadhnīta — you bound up atha — even so tat — that mṛṣye — I am tolerating bandhūnām — among relatives aikya — for unity kāmyayā — with the desire .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yad yūyaṁ bahavas tv ekaṁ
yat
that
yūyam
all of you
bahavaḥ
being many
tu
but
ekam
one person
jitvādharmeṇa dhārmikam
jitvā
defeating
adharmeṇa
against religious principles
dhārmikam
one who follows religious principles
abadhnītātha tan mṛṣye
abadhnīta
you bound up
atha
even so
tat
that
mṛṣye
I am tolerating
bandhūnām aikya-kāmyayā
bandhūnām
among relatives
aikya
for unity
kāmyayā
with the desire .
  • adharmeṇa — against religious principles
    Six against one is the adharma named. Even modern kṣatriya code condemned ganging up; the Bhāgavatam preserves the principle.
  • dhārmikam — one who follows dharma
    Sāmba was the dhārmika; the six were the adhārmika. The moral grammar of the verse is exact: Ugrasena does not call Sāmba flawless, but he calls him dhārmika relative to those who bound him.
  • mṛṣye — I am tolerating
    From mṛṣ, 'to bear with.' A kṣatriya virtue when in the service of family unity. Forbearance is the elder's gift — and the Kurus are about to refuse it.
  • aikya - kāmyayā — with the desire for unity
    Aikya = oneness, unity. The motive for Ugrasena's restraint is named explicitly — keep the family one. The Kurus will reject the gift; the consequence at Kurukṣetra is foreshadowed.
[King Ugrasena has said:] Even though by irreligious means several of you defeated a single opponent who follows the religious codes, still I am tolerating this for the sake of unity among family members.

Here Ugrasena implies that the Kurus should immediately bring Sāmba and present him to Lord Balarāma.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
[King Ugrasena has said:] Even though by irreligious means several of you defeated a single opponent who follows the religious codes, still I am tolerating this for the sake of unity among family members.
Commentary

Ugrasena speaks in this verse. "I am tolerating that you unjustly defeated Samba." His meaning is: "Therefore you should immediately bring him forward and give him back." He did not complete this statement however, because just on hearing it, the opposing side would utter foul words.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Many persons fighting a single person is adharma. It is dharma for a kṣatriya to abduct a bride at a svayaṁvara. Or when many persons fight a single person, sometimes the person can flee. Otherwise he should fight. Atha indicates auspiciousness.

Related values
Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Satya (Truthfulness)Daya (Compassion / Mercy)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Bhakti (Devotion)
Related verses
Concepts
JivaDharma

A father whose son has been beaten by a gang of strangers does not strike back; he names the wrong and offers forbearance. King Ugrasena (through Balarāma's mouth) does exactly this — naming the adharma, then granting amnesty for the sake of family.

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