Shloka 9
Khaḍgotpattiḥ (Origin and Dharmic Function of the Sword) | खड्गोत्पत्तिः
उभावेतौ समफलौ समदोषौ च भारत । अज्ञानं चातिलोभश्षाप्येकं जानीहि पार्थिव,भारत! पृथ्वीनाथ! अज्ञान और अत्यन्त लोभ--इन दोनोंको एक समझो, क्योंकि इनके परिणाम और दोष समान ही हैं
ubhāv etau samaphalau samadoṣau ca bhārata | ajñānaṃ cātilobhaś cāpy ekaṃ jānīhi pārthiva ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Oh Bharata, estas dos—la ignorancia y la codicia excesiva—son iguales en sus frutos e iguales en sus faltas. Por ello, oh rey, entiéndelas como una sola, pues conducen a la misma caída ética y a las mismas consecuencias.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that ignorance (ajñāna) and excessive greed (atilobha) are effectively the same in ethical terms: both produce comparable harmful outcomes and carry similar moral defects, so a ruler should treat them as one root problem to be overcome.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to the king after the war, Bhishma continues his counsel on righteous conduct and governance, warning that inner vices—especially ignorance and greed—undermine judgment and lead to the same destructive consequences.