Shloka 55
तस्य मे रोचते राजन् क्षुधितस्येव भोजनम् । अमात्या मे न रोचन्ते वितृष्णस्य यथोदकम्,जैसे भूखेको भोजन अच्छा लगता है, उसी प्रकार आपका दर्शन मुझे बड़ा प्रिय लगता है; परंतु जैसे प्यास न रहनेपर पानी अच्छा नहीं लगता, उसी प्रकार आपके ये मन्त्री मुझे अच्छे नहीं जान पड़ते हैं
tasya me rocate rājan kṣudhitasyeva bhojanam | amātyā me na rocante vitṛṣṇasya yathodakam ||
قال بهيشما: «أيها الملك، إن رؤيتك تُسرّني كما يسرّ الطعامُ الجائعَ. غير أن وزراءك لا يروقون لي، كما لا يلتذّ الماءُ لمن زال عطشُه.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma distinguishes between genuine worth and mere association: a virtuous king may be deeply pleasing and worthy of regard, yet unworthy advisers can negate that satisfaction. The similes teach discernment—value is context-dependent, like food for the hungry and water for the thirsty.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule, Bhishma addresses the king directly, expressing personal approval of the king himself while openly disapproving of the king’s ministers, implying that the quality of counsel around a ruler is crucial.