Shloka 21
भीष्मस्योत्तरायणप्रतीक्षा तथा युधिष्ठिरागमनम् | Bhīṣma’s uttarāyaṇa moment and Yudhiṣṭhira’s arrival
समश्रितानां वरद: शत्रूणामपि धर्मवित् | नीतिज्ञो नीतिसम्पन्नो ब्रह्मवादी जितेन्द्रियः
samaśritānāṁ varadaḥ śatrūṇām api dharmavit | nītijño nītisampanno brahmavādī jitendriyaḥ ||
帰依する者すべてに—たとえ敵であっても—恩寵を授け、敵に対してもダルマをわきまえる。政道に通じ、正しい行いに満ち、ブラフマン（Brahman）を知りこれを説き、諸根を制した者—かつて逆らった者にさえ施しと道義の明晰さを及ぼす、理想の王にして守護者である。
ईश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal: true greatness combines protection of the vulnerable with principled conduct toward all, even enemies. Mastery of nīti (practical governance) must be grounded in dharma and inner self-control (jitendriya), so that power expresses generosity, restraint, and moral clarity rather than vengeance.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, the speaker (Īśvara) describes the defining virtues of an exemplary protector/ruler: one who grants refuge and boons, understands dharma, is skilled in policy, speaks spiritual truth, and has conquered the senses—thereby framing the standards by which leadership and character are to be judged.