Shloka 9
Vāmadeva’s Counsel on Rooted Kingship and Non-violent Victory (वामदेवोपदेशः—दृढमूलराजधर्मः)
नैव द्विषन्तो हीयन्ते राज्ञो नित्यमनिध्नत:ः । क्रोधं निहन्तुं यो वेद तस्य द्वेष्टा न विद्यते
naiva dviṣanto hīyante rājño nityam anidhnataḥ | krodhaṃ nihantuṃ yo veda tasya dveṣṭā na vidyate ||
Vāmadeva dit : «Si un roi ne châtie jamais, ceux qui nourrissent la haine ne diminuent pas ; l’hostilité ne cesse de renaître sous un pouvoir sans frein. Mais celui qui sait tuer la colère elle-même n’a point d’ennemi, car la colère, une fois maîtrisée, ne suscite plus l’inimitié chez autrui.»
वामदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Two complementary principles are taught: (1) a ruler who never enforces discipline invites continuing hostility; (2) the higher victory is inner—one who destroys anger at its root ceases to generate enmity and thus is effectively without enemies.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, Vāmadeva advises on kingship and personal discipline, contrasting external control (punishment to restrain wrongdoers) with internal control (conquering anger), presenting anger-mastery as the surest way to end cycles of hatred.