Shloka 21
अदारा-नीति
Crisis Composure) and ‘Jaya’ Śravaṇa (Morale-Instruction
माता बोली--तेरे इस कथनसे मुझे बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई है। तू इस प्रकार विचार तो करता है। मुझे मेरे कर्तव्य (पुत्रपर दयादृष्टि करने)-की प्रेरणा दे रहा है, इसीलिये मैं भी तुझे बार-बार तेरा कर्तव्य सुझा रही हूँ ।।
atha tvāṃ pūjayiṣyāmi hatvā vai sarva-saindhavān | ahaṃ paśyāmi vijayaṃ kṛcchra-bhāvitam eva te ||
Sabi ng ina: “Lubha akong natuwa sa sinabi mo, sapagkat marunong kang magnilay nang ganyan. Hinihikayat mo akong gampanan ang tungkulin—ang tumingin sa anak nang may habag; kaya ako rin ay paulit-ulit na nagpapaalaala sa iyo ng iyong dharma. At kapag nagbalik ka matapos mapuksa ang lahat ng mandirigma ng Sindhu, pararangalan at sasalubungin kita. Tiyak na masisilayan ko ang iyong tagumpay—bagaman ito’y makakamtan lamang sa matinding paghihirap.”
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames victory as something earned through hardship and duty: the mother’s promised honor is conditional upon the son’s fulfillment of a difficult, violent obligation understood as his dharma. It highlights the ethical tension between familial affection and the demands of a warrior’s role.
A mother addresses her son, expressing confidence that he will defeat the Saindhava forces of the Sindhu region. She vows to receive and honor him upon his return, while acknowledging that his triumph will come only after severe struggle.