Shloka 7
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
अस्ति कश्रिद् विशिष्टो वा मद्विधो वा भवेद् युधि । शूद्रो वैश्य: क्षत्रियो वा ब्राह्मणो वापि शस्त्रभृत्
asti kaścid viśiṣṭo vā madvidho vā bhaved yudhi | śūdro vaiśyaḥ kṣatriyo vā brāhmaṇo vāpi śastrabhṛt ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: «¿Hay alguien en este mundo—sea śūdra, vaiśya, kṣatriya o incluso brāhmaṇa—que porte armas y pueda superarme en batalla, o siquiera igualarme?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial pride seeks validation through comparison—“is anyone my equal?”—while implicitly raising a dharmic question: true worth is not only power in battle but also restraint, humility, and right conduct, especially when strength tempts one toward arrogance.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war atmosphere, a speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) voices a sweeping challenge, claiming unmatched superiority in battle and naming all four varṇas to emphasize that no weapon-bearing person, of any social class, can rival him.