Shloka 16
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
स राजा महतीं सेनां योजयित्वा षडल्धिनीम् । अमृष्यमाण: सम्प्रायाद् यत्र तावपराजितौ,राजाको यह सहन नहीं हुआ। उन्होंने (रथ, हाथी, घोड़े, पैदल, शकट और ऊँट--इन) छः अंगोंसे युक्त विशाल सेनाको सुसज्जित करके उस स्थानकी यात्रा की, जहाँ कभी पराजित न होनेवाले वे दोनों महात्मा विद्यमान थे
sa rājā mahatīṃ senāṃ yojayitvā ṣaḍ-aṅginīm | amṛṣyamāṇaḥ samprāyād yatra tāv aparājitau ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Unable to endure the affront, the king marshalled a vast army furnished with six divisions and set out for the place where those two great men—deemed unconquered—were staying.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions that a ruler’s inability to tolerate perceived insult (amṛṣyamāṇaḥ) can drive hasty militarization and conflict; ethical governance requires restraint and discernment before resorting to force.
The king, stung by resentment, mobilizes a large six-division army and marches to the location where two renowned, ‘unconquered’ great men are present, signaling an impending confrontation.