Shloka 21
अग्राह्य-ज्ञातिसंबन्धमण्डल-विवेचनम् / Managing Unreadable Kinship Networks: Vāsudeva–Nārada on Cohesion
नारद उवाच शक्त्यान्नदानं सततं तितिक्षार्जवमार्दवम् यथार्हप्रतिपूजा च शस्त्रमेतदनायसम्,नारदजीने कहा--श्रीकृष्णप! अपनी शक्तिके अनुसार सदा अन्नदान करना, सहनशीलता, सरलता, कोमलता तथा यथायोग्य पूजन (आदर-सत्कार) करना--यही बिना लोहेका बना हुआ शस्त्र है
nārada uvāca | śaktyānnadānaṃ satataṃ titikṣārjavamārdravam | yathārha-pratipūjā ca śastram etad anāyasam ||
ନାରଦ କହିଲେ—ନିଜ ଶକ୍ତିଅନୁସାରେ ସଦା ଅନ୍ନଦାନ କରିବା, ତିତିକ୍ଷା, ସରଳତା, ମୃଦୁତା, ଏବଂ ଅର୍ହଙ୍କୁ ଯଥୋଚିତ ସମ୍ମାନ-ଆତିଥ୍ୟ ଦେବା—ଏହି ହେଉଛି ଲୋହାବିହୀନ ସେଇ ଅନାୟାସ ଶସ୍ତ୍ର।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Narada defines a ‘weapon without iron’ as ethical strength: sustained charity (especially feeding others), patience, honesty, gentleness, and appropriate respect/hospitality. These virtues function like a protective and victorious power grounded in dharma rather than violence.
In Shanti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Narada speaks as a moral teacher, listing practical virtues that serve as a superior kind of weapon—one that wins hearts, maintains social order, and safeguards the practitioner without physical force.