Shloka 14
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
नाहं त्वत्तोडभिकाडूशक्षिष्ये वृत््युपायं जनाधिप । यतो भीष्मस्ततो द्रोणो यद् भीष्मस्त्वाह तत् कुरु,'जनेश्वर! मैं तुमसे कोई जीविकाका साधन प्राप्त करनेकी इच्छा नहीं करूँगा। जहाँ भीष्म हैं, वहीं द्रोण हैं। जो भीष्म कहते हैं, उसका पालन करो
nāhaṃ tvatto ’bhikāṅkṣiṣye vṛttyupāyaṃ janādhipa | yato bhīṣmas tato droṇo yad bhīṣmas tvāha tat kuru ||
Vāyu said: “O lord of men, I do not seek from you any means of livelihood. Where Bhīṣma stands, there stands Droṇa as well. Therefore, whatever Bhīṣma advises you—do that.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes principled counsel and rightful authority: the speaker refuses material dependence and urges the king to follow the guidance of the most senior and trusted elder (Bhīṣma), implying that sound governance rests on heeding dharmic, experienced advice rather than transactional motives.
Vāyudeva addresses the king (janādhipa), declaring he will not ask for any livelihood or reward, and points out that Droṇa aligns with Bhīṣma; thus the king should act according to Bhīṣma’s instruction—framing Bhīṣma as the decisive voice in the unfolding political-military crisis.