अध्याय ८ — शल्यस्य सत्कारः, वरदानं, पाण्डवसमागमश्च (Śalya’s Reception, the Boon, and Meeting the Pāṇḍavas)
विदितं ते महाराज लोकतनन््त्रं नराधिप । तस्माल्लोभकृतं किंचित् तव तात न विद्यते
viditaṃ te mahārāja lokatantraṃ narādhipa | tasmāl lobhakṛtaṃ kiñcit tava tāta na vidyate ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dijo: «Oh gran rey, oh soberano de los hombres, conoces bien el orden por el cual se gobierna el mundo. Por ello, querido, no hay en ti nada nacido de la codicia.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
A ruler who truly understands lokatantra—how society and governance function—should not be driven by lobha (greed). Ethical kingship is marked by restraint and freedom from selfish craving.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses a king respectfully, affirming his knowledge of worldly governance and praising him as being free from greed—setting a moral tone for counsel and decision-making in the Udyoga Parva context.