Shloka 61
Nāradasya Rājadharma-praśnāḥ
Nārada’s Examination of Royal Ethics
कच्चिदात्मानमेवाग्रे विजित्य विजितेन्द्रिय: । परान् जिगीषसे पार्थ प्रमत्तानजितेन्द्रियान्,कुन्तीनन्दन! क्या तुम पहले अपनी इन्द्रियों और मनको जीतकर ही प्रमादमें पड़े हुए अजितेन्द्रिय शत्रुओंको जीतनेकी इच्छा करते हो?
kaccid ātmānam evāgre vijitya vijitendriyaḥ | parān jigīṣase pārtha pramattān ajitendriyān ||
Nārada dit : «Ô Pārtha, as-tu d’abord vaincu ton propre être—devenant maître de tes sens—et alors seulement cherches-tu à vaincre les autres, ces ennemis négligents et encore indisciplinés ?»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the first and necessary conquest is of oneself—especially the senses and mind. Only a person who is vijitendriya (self-controlled) is fit to seek victory over others; otherwise external conquest lacks ethical grounding and stability.
Nārada addresses Pārtha (Arjuna) with a pointed question, testing and guiding his readiness for conflict and leadership. He contrasts a disciplined hero with opponents who are pramatta (careless) and ajitendriya (undisciplined), urging that Arjuna’s campaign or ambition be rooted in prior self-mastery.