Shloka 140
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
हितार्थी ब्राह्मण भारद्वाज कणिककी कही हुई उन यथार्थ बातोंको सुनकर सौवीरदेशके राजाने उनका यथोचितरूपसे पालन किया, जिससे वे बन्धु-बान्धवों-सहित समुज्ज्वल राजलक्ष्मीका उपभोग करने लगे ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | hitārthī brāhmaṇa bhāradvājaḥ kaṇikakyā kathitāḥ tā yathārthāḥ bātāḥ śrutvā sauvīradeśasya rājā tān yathocitarūpeṇa apālayat | yena sa bandhū-bāndhava-sahitaḥ samujjvalāṁ rājalakṣmīm upabhoktuṁ pravavṛte || iti śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi āpaddharmaparvaṇi kaṇikopadeśe catvāriṁśad-adhika-śatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ |
Bhishma sprach: Nachdem der König von Sauvira jene wahrhaftigen Ratschläge vernommen hatte, die der Brahmane Bharadvaja, Kanika, zum Wohle vorgetragen hatte, befolgte er sie in gebührender Weise. So gelangte er, zusammen mit Verwandten und Angehörigen, zu glänzendem königlichem Glück. Damit endet das hundertvierzigste Kapitel des Śānti Parva des Mahābhārata, im Āpaddharma-Abschnitt, über Kanikas Unterweisung.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Properly hearing and appropriately applying wise counsel—especially counsel aimed at welfare (hita)—leads to stable and radiant royal prosperity, benefiting not only the ruler but also his wider circle of kin.
Bhishma concludes the Kanika-instruction episode by stating that the king of Sauvira listened to Kanika’s truthful advice (as conveyed through the Brahmin Bharadvaja) and followed it suitably, resulting in flourishing kingship and prosperity shared with his relatives; the chapter colophon then marks the end of the adhyaya.