तपस्विषु बहुज्ञेषु याजकेषु नृपेषु च । बलवत्सु गुणाढ्येषु शमवानेव राजते ॥ ८१ ॥
tapasviṣu bahujñēṣu yājakēṣu nṛpēṣu ca | balavatsu guṇāḍhyēṣu śamavānēva rājatē || 81 ||
Translation
Among ascetics, the learned, sacrificers, kings, the strong and the rich in virtue, only the peaceful one shines.
Word by word
- tapasviṣu
- among ascetics
- bahujñēṣu
- the learned
- yājakēṣu
- sacrificers
- nṛpēṣu
- kings
- ca
- and
- balavatsu
- the strong
- guṇa
- in virtue
- āḍhyēṣu
- the rich
- śamavān
- the peaceful one
- ēva
- only
- rājatē
- shines
Meaning
Every kind of excellence the world knows is named, and peace is ranked over all. The commentary says peace is famed as the highest of all virtues. The verse does not deny that the others are excellent. Yet all of them could be held by someone restless and proud. Peace is what would make any of them worth having.