Shloka 18
Jatugṛha-dāhānantara-vṛttāntaḥ
Aftermath of the Lac House Fire
यस्य वा मनुजस्येद॑ न क्षान्तं मद्विचेष्टितम् रथमारुहा[ पद्धयां स विनामयतु कार्मुकम्,“जिस मनुष्यसे मेरा यह बर्ताव नहीं सहा जाता हो, वह रथपर चढ़कर पैरोंसे अपने धनुषको नवावे--हमारे साथ युद्धके लिये तैयार हो जाय”
yasya vā manujasyedaṁ na kṣāntaṁ madviceṣṭitam | ratham āruhya pādbhyāṁ sa vināmayatu kārmukam ||
ผู้ใดทนการกระทำของเราไม่ได้ จงขึ้นรถศึก แล้วใช้เท้ากดง้างคันธนูของตน—เตรียมพร้อมเพื่อรบเถิด
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical fault-line between forbearance (kṣamā) and retaliatory pride: when one cannot tolerate an affront, the impulse may turn immediately toward violence. It implicitly contrasts patience with the quick escalation to war.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) issues a direct martial challenge: anyone offended by his conduct should mount a chariot, bend the bow, and prepare to fight—turning personal grievance into a formal call for combat.