Shloka 54
Adhyāya 128 — Proposal to Restrain Keśava; Sātyaki’s Warning and Vidura–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Counsel
न लोभादर्थसम्पत्तिर्नराणामिह दृश्यते । तदलं तात लोभेन प्रशाम्य भरतर्षभ
na lobhād arthasampattir narāṇām iha dṛśyate | tad alaṃ tāta lobhena praśāmya bharatarṣabha ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “In this world, one does not see men attaining true prosperity merely through greed. Therefore, dear child, let greed be enough—quiet it, O bull among the Bharatas. Make peace with the Pāṇḍavas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed is not a reliable means to prosperity; it destabilizes judgment and leads to conflict. The verse urges restraint of lobha and recommends reconciliation as the dharmic and practical course.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, a speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) admonishes a Bharata prince to abandon greed and to conclude a peace (sandhi) with the Pāṇḍavas rather than push matters toward war.