Shloka 12
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
यत्रेच्छागामिनो दान्ता: सर्वशत्रुनिषूदना: । प्रार्थयन्ति च यद् दान्ता लभन्ते तन्न संशय:
yatreच्छāgāmino dāntāḥ sarvaśatruniṣūdanāḥ | prārthayanti ca yad dāntā labhante tan na saṃśayaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「自制を成し遂げた者たちは、望むところへ自在に赴き、欲し求めて願うものはことごとく得る——疑いはない。そのような統御の力を備えるゆえ、彼らはあらゆる敵を滅ぼす者となる。鍛え上げられた規律の威力は、いかなる対抗も立たせぬからである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that disciplined self-control (dama) yields extraordinary efficacy: the restrained person gains freedom of movement and success in aims, and can overcome opposition. Ethically, the verse links inner mastery with outer capability—victory begins with conquering oneself.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he describes the capacities of truly self-controlled individuals: they can go as they wish and obtain what they seek, and thus are portrayed as capable of subduing or destroying enemies. The statement functions as praise of restraint and its practical consequences.