Shloka 143
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
तस्मात् सर्वास्ववस्थासु नरो लोभ विवर्जयेत् । एष धर्म: परो राजंस्तस्माल्लोभं॑ विवर्जयेत्,राजन! इसलिये मनुष्यको चाहिये कि वह सभी दशाओंमें लोभका त्याग करे, क्योंकि यह सबसे बड़ा धर्म है। अत: लोभको अवश्य त्याग देना चाहिये
tasmāt sarvāsv avasthāsu naro lobhaṁ vivarjayet | eṣa dharmaḥ paro rājan tasmāl lobhaṁ vivarjayet ||
Therefore, in every condition of life, a man should renounce greed. This, O king, is the highest dharma; hence you must abandon greed.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed (lobha) should be abandoned in every circumstance; renouncing greed is presented as the highest form of dharma because it protects judgment, restraint, and righteous conduct.
Bhīṣma, instructing the king during the Anuśāsana Parva’s ethical discourse, emphasizes a practical rule of conduct: regardless of one’s situation, one should avoid greed, since it undermines dharma and good governance.