SB 1.8.50
इति मे न तु बोधाय कल्पते शासनं वचः ॥ ५० ॥
iti me na tu bodhāya kalpate śāsanaṁ vacaḥ
Synonyms
vadhaḥ — the killing; dviṣām — of enemies; dharma-yuddhe — in a morally justified war; na enaḥ — involves no sin [pāpaṁ na bhavati202]; rājñaḥ — on the part of a king; [provided he does so]; prajā-bhartuḥ — solely in his capacity as the protector of the citizens [solely when the lives of his citizens are at stake (sva-prajānām anyato-vadhe prasakte)]; iti — thus [it is enjoined in the Nīti-śāstras (nīti-śāstre’nujñātaḥ)203]; vacaḥ — these words; śāsanam — [of] instruction [śikṣā-rūpam]; tu — however; na kalpate — are unable [samarthaṁ naiva bhavati204]; bodhāya — to appease [santoṣāya205]; me — me [mama206]; [because in my case, the killing was undertaken merely out of greed for the kingdom, while the citizens were being provided for by Duryodhana, and hence it was certainly sinful (duryodhanena tu prajāyāṁ pālyamānāyāṁ mayā kevalaṁ rājya-lobhena hatatvāt pāpam evedam iti)].
Translation
“The killing of enemies in a morally justified war involves no sin on the part of a king provided he does so solely in his capacity as the protector of the citizens.” Thus [it is enjoined in the Nīti-śāstras]. These words of instruction, however, are unable to appease me.