Shloka 73
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
राज्ञां हि बलमैश्वर्य ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदां बलम् रूपयौवनसौभाग्यं स्त्रीणां बलमनुत्तमम्,राजाओंका बल एऐश्वर्य है, वेदज्ञ ब्राह्मणोंका बल वेद है तथा स्त्रियोंका परम उत्तम बल रूप, यौवन और सौभाग्य है
rājñāṃ hi balam aiśvaryaṃ brahma brahmavidāṃ balam | rūpa-yauvana-saubhāgyaṃ strīṇāṃ balam anuttamam ||
జనకుడు పలికెను—రాజుల బలం ఐశ్వర్యం, అధికారమే; బ్రహ్మవిదుల (వేదతత్త్వజ్ఞుల) బలం బ్రహ్మమే. స్త్రీలకైతే రూపం, యౌవనం, సౌభాగ్యం—ఇవే అత్యుత్తమ బలం.
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse classifies ‘strength’ according to social function: rulers rely on sovereignty, spiritual scholars rely on sacred knowledge, and women are said to wield influence through beauty, youth, and auspicious fortune. Ethically, it invites discernment that power takes different forms and should be restrained and directed by dharma rather than used as mere leverage.
King Janaka is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse on dharma and right conduct. He offers an observation about the typical sources of influence available to different groups, as part of a broader moral-philosophical discussion rather than a battlefield event.