Shloka 9
Adhyāya 96: Nārada Guides Mātali in Varuṇa’s Realm
Varuṇa-loka Darśana
बलवानहमित्येव न मन्तव्यं सुयोधन । बलवन्तो बलिभ्यो हि दृश्यन्ते पुरुषर्षभ
balavān aham ity eva na mantavyaṃ suyodhana | balavanto balibhyo hi dṛśyante puruṣarṣabha ||
Sinabi ni Kaṇva: “O Suyodhana, huwag mong isipin, ‘Ako lamang ang malakas.’ O toro sa mga tao, kahit sa hanay ng makapangyarihan ay may higit pang makapangyarihan. Kaya huwag mong hayaang ang pagmamataas sa lakas ang maging gabay mo; kilalanin ang hangganan ng kapangyarihan at kumilos nang may pagpipigil at pag-unawa.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not become arrogant about one’s own strength; in the world there are always those stronger. Ethical action requires humility, realistic self-assessment, and restraint rather than pride-driven decisions.
Kaṇva addresses Suyodhana (Duryodhana) with admonitory counsel, warning him against overconfidence and reminding him that power is relative—an implicit check on rashness in the tense pre-war context of the Udyoga Parva.