Shloka 18
राज्ञस्तत् सर्वमाचख्यौ मन्त्री विजयमुत्तमम् । पराजयं कुरूणां चाप्युपायान्तं तथोत्तरम्
rājñas tat sarvam ācakhyau mantrī vijayam uttamam | parājayaṁ kurūṇāṁ cāpy upayāntaṁ tathottaram ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Isinalaysay ng ministro sa hari ang lahat—na nagkamit ang kanilang panig ng maringal na tagumpay at napasailalim sa pagkatalo ang mga Kuru. Ipinahayag din niyang nagbabalik na si Prinsipe Uttara, na nabawi ang mga baka at napaatras sa pagtakbo ang kaaway, ligtas at maayos kasama ang kanyang sārathi.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical role of truthful counsel and responsible governance: a minister must accurately report outcomes to the king, and victory is framed not merely as triumph but as the restoration of order, security, and the community’s resources (symbolized by the recovered cattle).
A minister informs the king that their side has achieved a decisive victory, the Kurus have been defeated, and Prince Uttara is returning. In the broader episode, this corresponds to the successful recovery of the cattle after the conflict near Virāṭa’s realm.