Shloka 21
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
समश्रितानां वरद: शत्रूणामपि धर्मवित् | नीतिज्ञो नीतिसम्पन्नो ब्रह्मवादी जितेन्द्रियः
samaśritānāṁ varadaḥ śatrūṇām api dharmavit | nītijño nītisampanno brahmavādī jitendriyaḥ ||
هو واهبُ النِّعَم لكلِّ من لجأ إليه، حتى للعدوّ إذا دخل في حماه، وهو عارفٌ بالدارما حتى في شأن الخصوم. حاذقٌ بفنون الحكم والسياسة، كاملُ الاستقامة في السلوك، عارفٌ بالبراهمان وناطقٌ به، وقد قهر حواسَّه—حاكمٌ حامٍ مثاليّ تمتدّ سخاؤه ووضوحه الأخلاقي حتى إلى من كانوا يومًا مناوئين له.
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal: true greatness combines protection of the vulnerable with principled conduct toward all, even enemies. Mastery of nīti (practical governance) must be grounded in dharma and inner self-control (jitendriya), so that power expresses generosity, restraint, and moral clarity rather than vengeance.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, the speaker (Īśvara) describes the defining virtues of an exemplary protector/ruler: one who grants refuge and boons, understands dharma, is skilled in policy, speaks spiritual truth, and has conquered the senses—thereby framing the standards by which leadership and character are to be judged.