Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
बलवानहमित्येव न मन्तव्यं सुयोधन । बलवन्तो बलिभ्यो हि दृश्यन्ते पुरुषर्षभ
balavān aham ity eva na mantavyaṃ suyodhana | balavanto balibhyo hi dṛśyante puruṣarṣabha ||
ହେ ସୁୟୋଧନ! ‘ମୁଁ ହିଁ ବଳବାନ’ ବୋଲି ଭାବିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ହେ ପୁରୁଷଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ବଳବାନମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଧିକ ବଳବାନ ପୁରୁଷ ଜଗତରେ ଦେଖାଯାନ୍ତି।
कण्व उवाच
Do not become arrogant about one’s own strength; in the world there are always those stronger. Ethical action requires humility, realistic self-assessment, and restraint rather than pride-driven decisions.
Kaṇva addresses Suyodhana (Duryodhana) with admonitory counsel, warning him against overconfidence and reminding him that power is relative—an implicit check on rashness in the tense pre-war context of the Udyoga Parva.