Shloka 15
Āśā-prabhava (आशाप्रभव) — On the Rise and Power of Hope/Expectation
Sumitra Itihāsa Begins
शीलेन हि त्रयो लोका: शक्या जेतुं न संशय: । न हि किंचिदसाध्यं वै लोके शीलवतां भवेत्
śīlena hi trayo lokāḥ śakyā jetuṁ na saṁśayaḥ | na hi kiṁcid asādhyam vai loke śīlavatāṁ bhavet ||
ด้วยศีลาจารวัตรอันงาม ย่อมพิชิตได้แม้สามโลก—ปราศจากข้อสงสัย. สำหรับผู้มีคุณธรรมเช่นนั้น ในโลกนี้ไม่มีสิ่งใดเป็นไปไม่ได้.
घतयादट्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that śīla—steady moral character and disciplined conduct—is a supreme power: it enables one to ‘conquer’ the three worlds, meaning to attain comprehensive success and mastery, and it leaves nothing truly unattainable for the virtuous.
Within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right living, the speaker emphasizes to the listener that ethical excellence is not secondary to power or strategy; rather, it is presented as the decisive means to lasting victory and accomplishment.