Shloka 16
अदारा-नीति
Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction
आत्मानं वा परित्यज्य शत्रुं वा विनिपात्य च । अतोःन््येन प्रकारेण शान्तिरस्य कुतो भवेत्
ātmānaṃ vā parityajya śatruṃ vā vinipātya ca | ato'nyena prakāreṇa śāntir asya kuto bhavet ||
Sa pag-alay ng sariling buhay, o sa pagbagsak sa kaaway—sa isa lamang sa dalawang ito nakakamit ng gayong mandirigma ang kapayapaan. Sa iba pang paraan, paano darating sa kanya ang katahimikan? Kaya ang matatag na kṣatriya, na paulit-ulit na natalo at sinusunog ng galit, ay dapat sumalakay sa mga kaaway na may pagnanais na magwagi; sapagkat nakakamit lamang niya ang paghinahon matapos iwan ang sariling katawan o matapos pabagsakin ang kaaway.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
For a kṣatriya consumed by the logic of honor and warfare, inner peace is portrayed as attainable only through decisive resolution of conflict—either by self-sacrifice (death in battle) or by defeating/slaying the enemy; compromise is implied to prolong agitation and dishonor.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations, the speaker (the son) articulates a hardline martial stance: a repeatedly defeated, anger-burnt warrior should launch an attack seeking victory, because only death or the enemy’s fall brings him ‘śānti’.