Shloka 45
ब्राह्मणस्य पूर्वतरा वृत्तिः — The Earlier Ideal Conduct of a Brahmana
River-of-Saṃsāra Metaphor
ममेयमिति मोहात् त्वं राजश्रियमभीप्ससि । नेयं तव न चास्माकं न चान्येषां स्थिरा सदा,तुम मोहवश जिस राजलक्ष्मीको “यह मेरी है” ऐसा समझकर पाना चाहते हो, वह न तुम्हारी है, न हमारी है और न दूसरोंकी ही है। वह किसीके पास भी सदा स्थिर नहीं रहती
mameyam iti mohāt tvaṃ rājaśriyam abhīpsasi | neyaṃ tava na cāsmākaṃ na cānyeṣāṃ sthirā sadā ||
قال بهيشما: إنك، مخدوعًا بوهم «هذا لي»، تتوق إلى نيل بهاء المُلك وثرائه. غير أن هذه النعمة ليست لك حقًّا، ولا لنا، ولا لغيرنا؛ فهي لا تثبت لأحدٍ أبدًا.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that the possessive notion “this is mine” is delusion, especially regarding political power and wealth. Royal fortune is inherently unstable and cannot be permanently owned; therefore one should restrain craving and act with dharma rather than attachment.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs the king on righteous conduct and the nature of power. Here he cautions the listener against pursuing sovereignty under the illusion of ownership, emphasizing the fickle, transient character of rājaśrī (royal prosperity).