The conquest of the heart is everlasting while the conquest of the body is short-lived. The pen conquers the heart and the sword conquers only the body.
Ideas rule the world. The French revolution was brought about in the minds of men by the writings of Rousseau and Voltaire. The slogans: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, proved mightier and more formidable than the army and the armoury of Louis XIV.
The thoughts expressed by the greatmen of the world in their books exercise a greater influence than the most resounding of military victories. The Vedas the Gita, the Bible, and the Koran have influenced the lives of generations of men and they will go on doing so till eternity. But where are the great conquerors of the world? Are not Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon, Taimur and Hitler buried in the dust of oblivion ?
Books and ideas are the most explosive things. They rule the mind and the mind rules the world. Hitler’s victories are no more. They are forgotten. But Hitler’s autobiography Mein Kampf is read even today and shall be read by the coming generations.
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The exploits of his pen have proved mightier than those of his sword. When we sing the Jana-Gana-Mana or the Vande Matram, do we not feel a thrill along our spine? The writings of Mahatma Gandhi awakened the Indian masses from their age long political slumber and they wrested freedom from the unwilling hands of the British.
What inspires a soldier? What inspired Arjuna on the battle field? It is the writings and ideas of great men of all ages that inspire the soldier on the battle field. Even the victories of the sword immortalized by the pen.
The battle of the Ramayana would have been forgotten if Balmiki’s or Tulsi Das’s pen had not celebrated it. The pen carries the sword on its mighty shoulders. The Germans were more afraid of the leaflet raid of the Allies than of their bombs.
In conclusion, the pen that conquers the heart is far mightier than the sword that conquers only the body.