Shloka 8
Chapter 61: Karṇa’s martial assurances and Bhīṣma’s strategic rebuttal in the Kuru assembly
यत् खाण्डवं दाहयता कृतं हि कृष्णद्वितीयेन धनंजयेन । श्रुत्वैव तत् कर्म नियन्तुमात्मा युक्तस्त्वया वै सहबान्धवेन,'श्रीकृष्णसहित अर्जुनने खाण्डववनका दाह करते समय जो पराक्रम किया था, उसे सुनकर ही बान्धवों-सहित तुझे अपने मनपर काबू रखना उचित था
yat khāṇḍavaṃ dāhayatā kṛtaṃ hi kṛṣṇadvitīyena dhanaṃjayena | śrutvaiva tat karma niyantum ātmā yuktas tvayā vai sahabāndhavena ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Apabila engkau mendengar sahaja perbuatan Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna) dengan Kṛṣṇa sebagai pendampingnya—bagaimana dia membakar rimba Khāṇḍava—sepatutnya engkau, bersama kaum kerabatmu, menahan dan menguasai hatimu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hearing of extraordinary prowess and past deeds should prompt humility and self-restraint. Ethical governance begins with mastering one’s own mind; ignoring clear signs of strength and justice leads to reckless choices and wider harm.
Vaiśaṃpāyana recalls the famous feat of Arjuna, aided by Kṛṣṇa, burning the Khāṇḍava forest. He uses it as a pointed reminder that the listener—along with his supporters—should have controlled his impulses instead of acting in a way that escalates conflict.