Shloka 24
Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel
कामक्रोधौ हि पुरुषमर्थेभ्यो व्यपकर्षत: । तौ तु शत्रू विनिर्जित्य राजा विजयते महीम्,“काम और क्रोध मनुष्यको धनसे दूर खींच ले जाते हैं। उन दोनों शत्रुओंको जीत लेनेपर राजा इस पृथ्वीपर विजय पाता है
kāmakrodhau hi puruṣam arthebhyo vyapakarṣataḥ | tau tu śatrū vinirjitya rājā vijayate mahīm ||
Nafsu keinginan dan kemarahan benar-benar menarik manusia menjauh daripada kemakmuran serta keuntungan yang wajar. Namun apabila seorang raja menewaskan dua musuh batin ini, barulah dia layak menakluk dan memerintah bumi—meraih kemenangan melalui penguasaan diri, bukan semata-mata kekuatan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true victory begins with conquering inner enemies—desire (kāma) and anger (krodha). These passions divert a person from artha (rightful prosperity and aims). A ruler who masters them gains the moral and practical capacity to rule and ‘conquer’ the earth.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, states a general ethical maxim within the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-laden context: as war approaches, guidance is given on conduct and statecraft, emphasizing that a king’s success depends not only on strategy but on restraint over destructive impulses.