Shloka 16
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
स राजा महतीं सेनां योजयित्वा षडल्धिनीम् । अमृष्यमाण: सम्प्रायाद् यत्र तावपराजितौ
sa rājā mahatīṃ senāṃ yojayitvā ṣaḍ-aṅginīm | amṛṣyamāṇaḥ samprāyād yatra tāv aparājitau ||
毗舍摩波耶那说：国王不堪其辱，便整备一支具足六部的浩大军队，启程前往那两位被视为不可战胜的伟人所在之处。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions that a ruler’s inability to tolerate perceived insult (amṛṣyamāṇaḥ) can drive hasty militarization and conflict; ethical governance requires restraint and discernment before resorting to force.
The king, stung by resentment, mobilizes a large six-division army and marches to the location where two renowned, ‘unconquered’ great men are present, signaling an impending confrontation.