Shloka 61
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदात्मानमेवाग्रे विजित्य विजितेन्द्रिय: । परान् जिगीषसे पार्थ प्रमत्तानजितेन्द्रियान्
kaccid ātmānam evāgre vijitya vijitendriyaḥ | parān jigīṣase pārtha pramattān ajitendriyān ||
Nārada said: “O Pārtha, have you first conquered your own self—becoming master of your senses—and only then do you seek to conquer others, those enemies who are careless and still uncontrolled in their senses?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the first and necessary conquest is of oneself—especially the senses and mind. Only a person who is vijitendriya (self-controlled) is fit to seek victory over others; otherwise external conquest lacks ethical grounding and stability.
Nārada addresses Pārtha (Arjuna) with a pointed question, testing and guiding his readiness for conflict and leadership. He contrasts a disciplined hero with opponents who are pramatta (careless) and ajitendriya (undisciplined), urging that Arjuna’s campaign or ambition be rooted in prior self-mastery.