Shloka 14

Devanagari script

इति सम मध्ये भ्रातृणां सत्येनालभसे गदाम्‌ । तस्य ते प्रशमे बुद्धिर्ध्रियतेडद्य परंतप

Transliteration

iti samamadhye bhrātṝṇāṁ satyenālabhase gadām | tasya te praśame buddhir dhriyate 'dya parantapa ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Thus, in the midst of your brothers, by truthfulness you have obtained the mace. Therefore, O scorcher of foes, let your resolve now be held steady in restraint and pacification—let your mind be fixed today upon calming the situation rather than inflaming it.”

Word by Word

इतिthus

सम्together; in concord

मध्येin the midst

भ्रातॄणाम्of the brothers

सत्येनby truth; with truthfulness

अलभसेyou obtain; you gain

गदाम्a mace

तस्यof that; thereof

तेyour

प्रशमेin pacification; in calming

बुद्धिःunderstanding; intention

ध्रियतेis held; is maintained

अद्यtoday; now

परंतपO scorcher of foes

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

bhrātṛ (brothers)

gadā (mace)

Parantapa (epithet of the addressed hero)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links moral integrity (satya, truthfulness/keeping one’s word) with rightful attainment, and then urges praśama—calm restraint—as the proper use of strength. Power gained through dharma should be governed by self-control rather than anger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that the addressed hero has obtained a mace among his brothers through adherence to truth, and he counsels that the hero’s mind should now be steadied toward pacification—signaling a moment where restraint is urged amid rising tensions.