Shloka 21
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
2242 क्र ० 4 कलर १ ७ रे 2 2 १7 बाहुभ्यां मे जिता भूमिर्निहता: सर्वशत्रव: । भवद्धयां युद्धमाकाड्क्षन्नुपपयातो5स्मि पर्वतम्
bāhubhyāṃ me jitā bhūmir nihatāḥ sarvaśatravaḥ | bhavadbhyāṃ yuddham ākāṅkṣann upaprayāto ’smi parvatam ||
बाहुभ्यां मे जिता भूमिर्निहताः सर्वशत्रवः । भवद्भ्यां युद्धमाकाङ्क्षन्नुपपन्नोऽस्मि पर्वतम् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between martial pride and the deliberate choice to seek further conflict: even after victory and the destruction of enemies, the speaker’s desire for another battle shows how ambition and ego can perpetuate violence rather than restore peace.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a warrior boasts of having conquered the land and slain all foes, yet declares that he has approached a mountain specifically to fight “you two,” framing the moment as a direct challenge and an escalation toward combat.