Shloka 26
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
अब्रवीदेहि युद्धयस्व युद्धकामुक क्षत्रिय | सर्वशस्त्राणि चादत्स्व योजयस्व च वाहिनीम्,(संनहास्व च वर्माणि यानि चान्यानि सन्ति ते ।) अहं हि ते विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धामित: परम् । (यदाद्वयसि दर्पेण ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाउ्जनान् ।।
abravīd ehi yudhyasva yuddha-kāmuka kṣatriya | sarva-śastrāṇi cādatsva yojayasva ca vāhinīm (saṃnahāsvā ca varmāṇi yāni cānyāni santi te) | ahaṃ hi te vineṣyāmi yuddha-śraddhām itaḥ param (yadādvayasi darpeṇa brāhmaṇa-pramukhān janān) ||
قال راما: «هلمّ—قاتِلْ، أيها الكشاتريا المخمورُ بشهوة القتال. خُذْ جميع أسلحتك، واحشد جيشك، والبس درعك وما لديك من سائر العُدَد. فإني الآن سأحطّم ثقتك بالحرب ذاتها. إذ إنك، وقد انتفختَ كبراً، أخذتَ تتحدّى الناس والبراهمة في مقدّمتهم؛ فلذلك، من هذا اليوم، أضع حدّاً لعزمك الحربي.»
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arrogant aggression—especially when directed against the innocent and the socially protected (here, brahmins and others)—invites a corrective response. True kṣatriya power is not mere love of fighting; it must be governed by dharma, humility, and restraint.
Rama confronts a boastful, war-hungry kṣatriya and challenges him to prepare fully for battle—arms, armor, and army. Rama then declares he will shatter the opponent’s confidence in war because the man has been roaming about, proudly provoking brahmins and other people.