Shloka 4
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
सर्वो हि मन्यते लोक आत्मानं बुद्धिमत्तरम् । सर्वस्यात्मा बहुमत: सर्वात्मानं प्रशंसति
sarvo hi manyate loka ātmānaṃ buddhimattaram | sarvasyātmā bahumataḥ sarvātmānaṃ praśaṃsati ||
Sañjaya said: For everyone in the world imagines himself to be the wiser one. Each person’s own self is most highly valued by him, and so everyone praises his own self above all.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a common ethical weakness: self-preference and pride. People tend to overestimate their own wisdom and value themselves most, which leads them to praise themselves rather than judge impartially. It cautions against ego-driven judgment, especially in morally charged situations.
Sañjaya offers a general observation about human nature—how people typically consider themselves wiser than others and praise themselves. In the Sauptika Parva’s grim aftermath of war, this functions as a reflective comment that frames motives and decisions as susceptible to ego and self-justification.