Shloka 276
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
एतेनापि त्वया योत्स्ये युद्धार्थी हहमागत: । दम्भोद्भधवने कहा--तापस! यदि आप यही अस्त्र हमारे लिये उपयुक्त मानते हैं तो मैं इसके होनेपर भी आपके साथ युद्ध अवश्य करूँगा; क्योंकि मैं युद्धके लिये ही यहाँ आया हूँ
etena api tvayā yotsye yuddhārthī aham āgataḥ | dambhodbhava uvāca—tāpas! yadi tvam etad astram asmākaṁ kṛte upayuktaṁ manyase, tad asya bhāve 'pi tvayā saha yuddham avaśyaṁ kariṣyāmi; yato 'haṁ yuddhāyaiva iha āgataḥ ||
Dambhodbhava berkata: “Walau begitu, aku tetap akan bertarung denganmu. Aku datang ke sini mencari peperangan. Wahai pertapa, jika engkau menilai senjata ini sesuai bagi kami, maka sekalipun ia berada dalam milikmu, aku pasti akan beradu senjata denganmu—kerana untuk perang semata-mata aku datang ke sini.”
दग्भोद्भव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights unwavering resolve in pursuing one’s chosen aim (here, battle), even when the opponent is empowered by a weapon. It also frames an ethical tension: the warrior’s single-minded commitment to combat confronts the ascetic’s world of restraint and spiritual authority.
Dambhodbhava addresses an ascetic and declares that he has come specifically to fight. Even if the ascetic possesses or approves a particular weapon as suitable, Dambhodbhava insists he will still engage in battle, emphasizing his purpose-driven arrival.