Shloka 20
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
त्वां हि राज्ये स्थितं स्फीते समग्राड्रमरोगिणम् । स्त्रीसहस्रै: परिवृतं पश्यामीवोर्ध्वरेतसम्
tvāṃ hi rājye sthitaṃ sphīte samagrāḍramarogiṇam | strīsahasraiḥ parivṛtaṃ paśyāmīvōrdhvaretasam ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സമൃദ്ധമായ രാജ്യത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതനായി, സമഗ്രാംഗനും രോഗരഹിതനും ആയി, ആയിരം സ്ത്രീകളാൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നാലും, ഞാൻ നിന്നെ ‘ഊർധ്വരേതസ്’—അഖണ്ഡ ബ്രഹ്മചര്യനിഷ്ഠൻ—എന്നേ കാണുന്നു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is shown as inner mastery: even with health, wealth, sovereignty, and constant access to pleasure, a person can remain disciplined and restrained (ūrdhvaretas), demonstrating that virtue depends on self-governance rather than external conditions.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a royal figure, describing his prosperous rule and the presence of many women around him, yet praising (or marveling at) his continued celibate-like restraint—setting up a discussion on ethical conduct and self-control within worldly life.