Shloka 74
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
अत एतैरबलैरेव बलिन: स्वार्थमिच्छता । आर्जवेनाभिगन्तव्या विनाशाय हानार्जवम्
ata etair abalair eva balinaḥ svārtham icchatā | ārjavena abhigantavyā vināśāya hānārjavam ||
故而，正是凭借这些看似“柔弱”的手段，真正强者得以成其强。欲成就自身正当之所求者，当以坦直之心趋近他们；因为对他们施以曲诈——不诚不明——便会成为覆亡之因。
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Janaka teaches that apparent ‘soft’ virtues—especially ārjava (straightforward honesty)—are the real source of strength and success; deceit and crooked dealing (anārjava) ultimately bring destruction.
In the didactic discourse of Śānti Parva, King Janaka offers counsel on conduct: a seeker of one’s goal should approach others (and one’s duties) with candor and integrity, warning that duplicity toward such principles or persons leads to ruin.