Shloka 14
Jarāsandha-prastāvaḥ — Nīti-cintā ca Jarāsandhasya janma-vṛttāntaḥ
The Jarāsandha Prelude: Strategic Counsel and Birth Account
दैन्यं यथा बलवति तथा मोहो बलान्विते । तावुभौ नाशकौ हेतू राज्ञा त्याज्यौ जयार्थिना
dainyaṃ yathā balavati tathā moho balānvite | tāv ubhau nāśakau hetū rājñā tyājyau jayārthinā ||
力ある者にとって卑怯な落胆が重大な過ちであるように、強者にとって迷妄もまた大きな悪徳である。落胆と迷妄、この二つはいずれも滅びの因となる。ゆえに勝利を求める王は、その両方を捨て去るべきだ。
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A leader, especially a king seeking victory, must reject two inner enemies—dejection (dainya) and delusion (moha). Strength without clarity is wasted, and power coupled with despair or confusion leads to ruin.
Arjuna is presented as speaking a counsel-like statement: he identifies dejection and delusion as destructive causes and frames them as qualities a victory-seeking ruler must abandon, emphasizing disciplined resolve and clear judgment in royal conduct.