Shloka 16
अदारा-नीति
Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction
आत्मानं वा परित्यज्य शत्रुं वा विनिपात्य च । अतोःन््येन प्रकारेण शान्तिरस्य कुतो भवेत्
ātmānaṃ vā parityajya śatruṃ vā vinipātya ca | ato'nyena prakāreṇa śāntir asya kuto bhavet ||
己が命を捨てるか、敵を討ち倒すか――この二つのいずれかによってのみ、そのような戦士は安らぎを得る。ほかの仕方で、どうして安らぎが訪れようか。ゆえに、幾度も敗れて怒りに焼かれる断固たるクシャトリヤは、勝利を望んで敵に攻めかかるべきである。身を捨てるか、敵を斃してこそ、彼はようやく心を鎮めるのだ。
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
For a kṣatriya consumed by the logic of honor and warfare, inner peace is portrayed as attainable only through decisive resolution of conflict—either by self-sacrifice (death in battle) or by defeating/slaying the enemy; compromise is implied to prolong agitation and dishonor.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, the speaker (the son) articulates a hardline martial stance: a repeatedly defeated, anger-burnt warrior should launch an attack seeking victory, because only death or the enemy’s fall brings him ‘śānti’.