Shloka 24
Bhīṣma on the Śara-Śayyā: Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa Approach the Eldest for Śānti
अनृशंस शुचिं दान्तं सर्वभूतहिते रतम् । महारथं त्वत्सदृशं न कंचिदनुशुश्रुम
anṛśaṃsa śuciṃ dāntaṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam | mahārathaṃ tvatsadṛśaṃ na kaṃcid anuśuśruma ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ക്രൂരതയില്ലാത്തവൻ, ശുചിയായവൻ, ദമനശീലൻ, സർവ്വഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ ഹിതത്തിൽ നിരതൻ—നിനക്കു തുല്യനായ മറ്റൊരു മഹാരഥനെ ഞാൻ കേട്ടിട്ടില്ല.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ideal warrior-ruler as one whose greatness is measured not only by martial prowess (mahāratha) but by ethical virtues: non-cruelty, purity, self-restraint, and active commitment to the welfare of all beings.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a traditional commendation of an unnamed ‘you’—declaring that no other great warrior equal to him has been heard of, because he combines supreme martial status with exemplary moral character.