Shloka 16
अदारा-नीति
Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction
आत्मानं वा परित्यज्य शत्रुं वा विनिपात्य च । अतोःन््येन प्रकारेण शान्तिरस्य कुतो भवेत्
ātmānaṃ vā parityajya śatruṃ vā vinipātya ca | ato'nyena prakāreṇa śāntir asya kuto bhavet ||
आत्मानं वा परित्यज्य शत्रुं वा विनिपात्य च । अन्येन प्रकारेण शान्तिरस्य कुतो भवेत् ॥ अत एव मनस्वी क्षत्रियो बहुशोऽभिभूय क्रोधदग्धः सन् विजयाभिलाषया शत्रून् अभ्युपैति; स हि देहत्यागेन वा शत्रुनिपातनेन वा शान्तिम् अवाप्नोति ॥
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
For a kṣatriya consumed by the logic of honor and warfare, inner peace is portrayed as attainable only through decisive resolution of conflict—either by self-sacrifice (death in battle) or by defeating/slaying the enemy; compromise is implied to prolong agitation and dishonor.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, the speaker (the son) articulates a hardline martial stance: a repeatedly defeated, anger-burnt warrior should launch an attack seeking victory, because only death or the enemy’s fall brings him ‘śānti’.