Shloka 13
Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications
न प्रहृष्पति यो लाभै: कामैर्यश्न न तृप्पति
na prahṛṣyati yo lābhaiḥ kāmair yaś ca na tṛpyati | lobhī manuṣyaḥ bahu-sā lābhaṃ prāpya api na saṃtuṣyati | bhogaiḥ sa kadācid api na tṛpyati | nareśvara! na devatābhiḥ, na gandharvaiḥ, na asuraiḥ, na mahā-nāgaiḥ, na ca samastaiḥ bhūta-gaṇaiḥ lobhasya svarūpaṃ yathārtha-rūpeṇa jñāyate ||
Bhishma said: The person who does not rejoice even when gains come, and who is never satisfied by desired objects—such a greedy man remains discontent even after obtaining abundant profit. He is never truly sated by pleasures. O king of men, the real nature of greed is not fully known as it truly is—not by the gods, nor by the Gandharvas, nor by the Asuras, nor by the great Nāgas, nor even by all classes of beings.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed is intrinsically insatiable: even abundant gain and repeated enjoyment do not produce contentment. Therefore, ethical life and inner peace require restraint of desire and cultivation of satisfaction (saṃtoṣa), rather than chasing ever-increasing acquisition.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction to the king (Yudhiṣṭhira), Bhishma continues his discourse on dharma and right conduct. Here he warns the ruler about the psychological and moral danger of lobha, emphasizing that its true nature is subtle and difficult to grasp—even for exalted classes of beings—so a king must be especially vigilant.