Shloka 25
Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
नावमन्यामि ते बुद्धि नावमन्ये च पौरुषम् । नावमन्ये जयामीति जितवद् वर्ततां भवान्
nāvamanyāmi te buddhiṁ nāvamanye ca pauruṣam | nāvamanye jayāmīti jitavad vartatāṁ bhavān ||
Aku tidak merendahkan kecerdasanmu, tidak pula menyepelekan upaya keperkasaanmu. Aku juga tidak menghina engkau dengan pikiran, ‘akulah pemenang.’ Karena itu, bertingkahlah seperti seorang yang telah menang—teguh, bermartabat, dan tanpa kekerdilan hati.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory should not become a pretext for contempt. One should honor another’s intelligence and effort, and even when successful, maintain restraint, dignity, and respectful conduct—behaving as a true victor rather than as an arrogant conqueror.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma is instructing on righteous conduct. Here he addresses an interlocutor respectfully, clarifying that he is not insulting their judgment or valor, and urges them to act with the composure and nobility expected of someone who has prevailed.