Shloka 25
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
ततो नरस्त्विषीकाणां मुष्टिमादाय भारत,(संनहास्व च वर्माणि यानि चान्यानि सन्ति ते ।) अहं हि ते विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धामित: परम् । (यदाद्वयसि दर्पेण ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाउ्जनान् ।। ) भरतनन्दन! तब महात्मा नरने हाथमें एक मुट्ठी सींक लेकर कहा--'युद्ध चाहनेवाले क्षत्रिय! आ, युद्ध कर। अपने सारे अस्त्र-शस्त्र ले ले। सारी सेनाको तैयार कर ले, कवच बाँध ले, तेरे पास और भी जितने साधन हों, उन सबसे सम्पन्न हो जा। तू बड़े घमंडमें आकर ब्राह्मण आदि सभी वर्णके लोगोंको ललकारता फिरता है; इसलिये मैं आजसे तेरे युद्धविषयक निश्चयको दूर किये देता हूँ
tato naras tviṣīkāṇāṃ muṣṭim ādāya bhārata (saṃnahāsvā ca varmāṇi yāni cānyāni santi te) ahaṃ hi te vineṣyāmi yuddhaśraddhām itaḥ param (yadādvayasi darpeṇa brāhmaṇapramukhān janān)
Then Rāma, taking a fistful of reeds in his hand, addressed him: “O descendant of Bharata, make yourself ready—strap on whatever armor you have and gather every other means at your disposal. For from this day I shall put an end to your will for war. Since, swollen with pride, you have been challenging people, beginning with the Brahmins, I will strip away your warlike resolve from this moment onward.”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arrogant aggression—especially against those deserving protection and respect, such as Brahmins—is portrayed as adharma. True strength includes restraint: pride-driven belligerence is to be checked, and the impulse toward unjust war is something a righteous authority may rightly suppress.
Rama confronts a boastful warrior who has been issuing challenges in pride. Holding a fistful of reeds as a symbolic gesture, Rama tells him to prepare fully for battle, yet declares that he will nullify the man’s very appetite for war because of his arrogant provocation of Brahmins and others.