Shloka 28
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
मनुष्येषु मनुष्येन्द्र न दृष्टो न च मे श्रुत: । भवतो वा गुणैर्युक्त: पृथिव्यां पुरुष: क्वचित्,“नरेन्द्र! मनुष्योंमें आपके समान गुणोंसे युक्त पुरुष इस पृथ्वीपर न तो मैंने कहीं देखा है और न सुना ही है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: manuṣyeṣu manuṣyendra na dṛṣṭo na ca me śrutaḥ | bhavato vā guṇair yuktaḥ pṛthivyāṃ puruṣaḥ kvacit ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô seigneur des hommes, parmi les humains je n’ai ni vu ni même entendu dire qu’il existe, où que ce soit sur cette terre, quelqu’un doté de vertus égales aux tiennes.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ethical excellence as the true measure of greatness: a ruler’s worth is grounded in guṇas (virtues) that make him exemplary among humans, reinforcing the Śānti Parva’s emphasis on dharma-based kingship.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, addresses a king as “manuṣyendra” and offers a superlative commendation, stating he has neither seen nor heard of anyone on earth equal to him in virtues—setting a tone of moral admiration within the Śānti Parva discourse.