Shloka 13
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
ब्रवीम्यहं न कार्पण्यान्नार्थहेतो: कथंचन । भीष्मेण दत्तमिच्छामि न त्वया राजसत्तम,“नृपश्रेष्ठ! मैं दीनतासे या धन पानेके लिये किसी प्रकार कोई बात नहीं कहता हूँ। मैं भीष्मका दिया हुआ पाना चाहता हूँ, तुम्हारा दिया नहीं
bravīmy ahaṃ na kārpaṇyān nārtha-hetoḥ kathaṃcana | bhīṣmeṇa dattam icchāmi na tvayā rāja-sattama ||
Vāyu said: “I do not speak out of wretchedness, nor for the sake of gain in any way. O best of kings, I desire what was given by Bhīṣma—nothing that comes from you.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds integrity in speech and conduct: one should not speak or act from baseness or greed. It also stresses the ethical weight of a gift’s source—accepting (or seeking) what is rightfully given by a worthy giver, while refusing what would compromise honor or propriety.
Vāyudeva addresses a king and clarifies his motive: he is not petitioning out of poverty or for profit. He insists on receiving only what Bhīṣma has given, explicitly rejecting any substitute offered by the king, thereby asserting principle over convenience.