Shloka 23
Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
ततः कौसल्यमाहूय मैथिलो वाक्यमत्रवीत् । धर्मतो नीतितश्वैव लोकश्ष विजितो मया
tataḥ kauśalyam āhūya maithilo vākyam abravīt | dharmato nītitaś caiva lokaś ca vijito mayā | tad adya tvayā guṇair eva aham api jitāḥ | ataḥ tvaṁ māṁ nāvajñāya vijayī vīra iva samācara ||
Alors le roi de Mithilā fit venir Kauśalya auprès de lui et dit : «Ô le meilleur des rois ! Par le dharma et par une juste politique, j’ai conquis le monde. Pourtant aujourd’hui, par tes propres vertus, tu m’as conquis moi-même. Ne méprise donc pas ma parole ; conduis-toi comme un héros victorieux.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True victory is not merely political conquest; it is the moral power of dharma and nīti. Even a world-conqueror acknowledges being ‘conquered’ by another’s guṇas, implying that virtue can command authority over force and status.
The king of Mithilā (Maithila/Janaka) calls Kauśalya to him and declares that although he has conquered the world through righteousness and policy, Kauśalya’s virtues have won over his own heart and judgment; he urges Kauśalya to act with the confidence and dignity of a victorious hero and not to disregard his instruction.