Shloka 12
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
यत्रेच्छागामिनो दान्ता: सर्वशत्रुनिषूदना: । प्रार्थयन्ति च यद् दान्ता लभन्ते तन्न संशय:
yatreच्छāgāmino dāntāḥ sarvaśatruniṣūdanāḥ | prārthayanti ca yad dāntā labhante tan na saṃśayaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：那些自制之人，随心所欲可往任何地方；凡其所愿、所求，皆能获得——毫无疑问。凭借如此的主宰之力，他们成为灭尽一切敌人的人，因为由戒律与自持所成就的力量，不容任何对抗存立。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that disciplined self-control (dama) yields extraordinary efficacy: the restrained person gains freedom of movement and success in aims, and can overcome opposition. Ethically, the verse links inner mastery with outer capability—victory begins with conquering oneself.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma, he describes the capacities of truly self-controlled individuals: they can go as they wish and obtain what they seek, and thus are portrayed as capable of subduing or destroying enemies. The statement functions as praise of restraint and its practical consequences.