Shloka 4

Devanagari script

आत्मा जेय: सदा राज्ञा ततो जेयाश्ष शत्रव: । अजितात्मा नरपतिर्विजयेत कथं रिपून्‌,राजाको सबसे पहले सदा अपने मनपर विजय प्राप्त करनी चाहिये, उसके बाद शत्रुओंको जीतनेकी चेष्टा करनी चाहिये। जिस राजाने अपने मनको नहीं जीता, वह शत्रुपर विजय कैसे पा सकता है?

Transliteration

ātmā jeyaḥ sadā rājñā tato jeyāś ca śatravaḥ | ajitātmā narapatir vijayet kathaṃ ripūn |

Translation

ভীষ্মে ক’লে—ৰজাই সদায় প্ৰথমে নিজৰ আত্মাক জয় কৰিব লাগে; তাৰ পাছত শত্রুক জয় কৰিবলৈ চেষ্টা কৰিব লাগে। যি নৃপতিয়ে নিজৰ মন জয় কৰা নাই, সি শত্রুৰ ওপৰত কেনেকৈ বিজয় লাভ কৰিব?

Word by Word

आत्माself (mind)

जेयःto be conquered / should be conquered

सदाalways

राज्ञाby the king

ततःthen / thereafter

जेयाःto be conquered / should be conquered

शत्रवःenemies

अजितात्माone whose self is unconquered

नरपतिःking (lord of men)

विजयेतcould/should conquer

कथम्how

रिपून्enemies

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

rājā (king)

narapati (ruler)

śatravaḥ/ripavaḥ (enemies)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that self-mastery is the foundation of kingship and success: a ruler must first conquer his own mind, desires, and anger; only then is victory over external enemies meaningful and achievable.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma advises the king on proper governance and conduct, emphasizing inner discipline as a prerequisite for effective rule and military or political victory.