Shloka 22
Bhīmasena’s Counsel on Grief, Inner Conflict, and the Duty of Kingship (भीमसेन-उपदेशः)
(बलिनो हि वयं राजन् देवैरपि सुदुर्जया: । कथं भृत्यत्वमापन्ना विराटनगरे समर ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
balino hi vayaṃ rājan devair api sudurjayāḥ |
kathaṃ bhṛtyatvam āpannā virāṭanagare sma ra ||
yac ca te droṇabhīṣmābhyāṃ yuddham āsīd arindama |
manasaikena yoddhavyaṃ tat te yuddham upasthitam ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: «Ó rei, somos fortes—difíceis de vencer até mesmo para os deuses. E, no entanto, lembra-te de como fomos forçados à servidão na cidade de Virāṭa. E tu, domador de inimigos, a batalha que outrora enfrentaste contra Droṇa e Bhīṣma—uma batalha equivalente ergue-se agora diante de ti: neste momento deves lutar apenas com a tua própria mente.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True victory can require an inner battle: even the strong must sometimes conquer their own mind—fear, anger, pride, or despair—before they can act rightly. The verse reframes ‘war’ as self-mastery and mental discipline.
Vaiśampāyana recalls a humiliating episode—servitude in Virāṭa’s city—despite great strength, to urge the king to remember past endurance. He then compares an earlier external war against Droṇa and Bhīṣma to a present, more subtle struggle: a decisive confrontation with one’s own mind.