Shloka 17
कामबन्धन-निवृत्ति तथा शान्तिलक्षण-उपदेशः | Release from Desire-Bondage and the Marks of Peace
एतैर्जितस्तु जयति सर्वाल्लॉकान् न संशय: । आचार्यो ब्रद्मलोकेश: प्राजापत्ये पिता प्रभु:,इनसे हार मानकर रहनेवाला मनुष्य सम्पूर्ण लोकोंपर विजय पाता है, इसमें संशय नहीं है। आचार्य ब्रह्मलोकका स्वामी है, पिता प्रजापतिलोकका ईश्वर है, अतिथि इन्द्रलोकके और ऋत्विज देवलोकके स्वामी हैं। कुटुम्बकी स्त्रियाँ अप्सराओंके लोककी स्वामिनी हैं और जाति-भाई विश्वेदेव लोकके अधिकारी हैं
etair jitastu jayati sarvāl lokān na saṁśayaḥ | ācāryo brahmalokeśaḥ prājāpatye pitā prabhuḥ |
Vyāsa said: “One who has been ‘conquered’ by these (that is, who yields to and honors these revered persons) truly conquers all worlds—of this there is no doubt. The teacher is lord in the world of Brahmā, and the father is sovereign in the world of Prajāpati.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ‘victory’ is achieved by being conquered by dharma—i.e., by yielding ego and honoring those who deserve reverence (especially teacher and father). Such humility and service generate merit that is poetically described as conquering all worlds.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Vyāsa explains the spiritual status of key social relations. Here he states that honoring them leads to the highest attainment, and he begins mapping their dignity to cosmic realms—teacher to Brahmaloka and father to Prajāpati’s realm—emphasizing their exalted authority.