naino rājñaḥ prajā-bhartur dharma-yuddhe vadho dviṣām iti me na tu bodhāya kalpate śāsanaṁ vacaḥ
Synonyms
na—never; enaḥ—sins; rājñaḥ—of the king; prajā-bhartuḥ—of one who is engaged in the maintenance of the citizens; dharma—for the right cause; yuddhe—in the fight; vadhaḥ—killing; dviṣām—of the enemies; iti—all these; me—for me; na—never; tu—but; bodhāya—for satisfaction; kalpate—they are meant for administration; śāsanam—injunction; vacaḥ—words of.
Translation
There is no sin for the king who kills for the right cause is certainly meant for administration. But these words of injunction are not applicable to me.
Purport
Maharaj Yudhisthir thinks that he was not actually in the administration of the kingdom. It was being carried by Duryodhana well without any harm to the citizens. But without being in administration he caused killing of so many living beings only for his personal gain of the kingdom from the hands of Duryodhana. The killing was committed not in the course of administration but for the sake of self aggrandisement and as such he is thinking of being responsible for all the sins.