Shloka 23
Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
ततः कौसल्यमाहूय मैथिलो वाक्यमत्रवीत् । धर्मतो नीतितश्वैव लोकश्ष विजितो मया
tataḥ kauśalyam āhūya maithilo vākyam abravīt | dharmato nītitaś caiva lokaś ca vijito mayā | tad adya tvayā guṇair eva aham api jitāḥ | ataḥ tvaṁ māṁ nāvajñāya vijayī vīra iva samācara ||
Pagkaraan nito, ipinatawag ng hari ng Mithila si Kausalya at nagsalita: “O pinakamainam sa mga hari! Sa dharma at sa wastong pamamalakad, napasuko ko ang daigdig. Ngunit ngayon, sa iyong sariling mga kagalingan, napasuko mo maging ako. Kaya huwag mong suwayin ang aking salita; kumilos ka na parang mandirigmang nagtagumpay.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True victory is not merely political conquest; it is the moral power of dharma and nīti. Even a world-conqueror acknowledges being ‘conquered’ by another’s guṇas, implying that virtue can command authority over force and status.
The king of Mithilā (Maithila/Janaka) calls Kauśalya to him and declares that although he has conquered the world through righteousness and policy, Kauśalya’s virtues have won over his own heart and judgment; he urges Kauśalya to act with the confidence and dignity of a victorious hero and not to disregard his instruction.