Sexual Life in Ancient India: A Study in the Comparative History of Indian Culture v2.c18.56

v2.c18.56

¹ The saying: “Might is right,” as in other Indian literature, is here emphatically made, and in many forms. Often the pāda is repeated: balam dharmo ’nuvartate, “right follows might” (so e.g. i, 136.19; Rām., vi, 83.26); “above right (virtue) I set might” (xii, 134.6). Who has might and strength is the free lord over right; this is governed by might, as smoke by the wind. None, indeed, has seen the fruit of right or wrong; strive after might on earth, all obey the nod of him that has the might” (xii, 134; see the whole chapter). Especially for or among the Kshattriyas power and right coincide (ii, 23.28, and elsewhere Heaven knows how often, in the most Machiavellian tones). I have already touched on that in a note. But here in Bhīshma’s words we have not his honest opinion. Hopkins mistakes the meaning of the whole. Bhīshma says: “And that which here in the world the man, who has the might, looks on as the right, is called the highest right, when the question arises of the right (or: where the question arises of the limits of the right).” Perhaps, even, we should take dharmo ’dharmavelāyām = “when wrong prevails”. But also without the apostrophe that is the true meaning of the words.