Shloka 21
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
2242 क्र ० 4 कलर १ ७ रे 2 2 १7 बाहुभ्यां मे जिता भूमिर्निहता: सर्वशत्रव: । भवद्धयां युद्धमाकाड्क्षन्नुपपयातो5स्मि पर्वतम्
bāhubhyāṃ me jitā bhūmir nihatāḥ sarvaśatravaḥ | bhavadbhyāṃ yuddham ākāṅkṣann upaprayāto ’smi parvatam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: “Sa lakas ng aking sariling mga bisig, nasakop ko ang lupa at napatay ang lahat ng aking mga kaaway. Gayunman, sa pagnanais na makidigma sa inyong dalawa, umakyat ako sa bundok na ito.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between martial pride and the deliberate choice to seek further conflict: even after victory and the destruction of enemies, the speaker’s desire for another battle shows how ambition and ego can perpetuate violence rather than restore peace.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a warrior boasts of having conquered the land and slain all foes, yet declares that he has approached a mountain specifically to fight “you two,” framing the moment as a direct challenge and an escalation toward combat.