Adhyāya 203 — Tilottamā-sṛṣṭiḥ
Creation and Commissioning of Tilottamā
ममाप्येषा मतिस्तात या भीष्मस्य महात्मन: । संविभज्यास्तु कौन्तेया धर्म एब सनातन:,तात! मेरी भी वही सम्मति है, जो महात्मा भीष्मकी है। कुन्तीके पुत्रोंकोी आधा राज्य बाँट देना चाहिये, यही परम्परासे चला आनेवाला धर्म है
mamāpy eṣā matis tāta yā bhīṣmasya mahātmanaḥ | saṁvibhajyāstu kaunteyā dharma eṣa sanātanaḥ ||
«Mon enfant, mon avis est aussi celui du noble Bhīṣma. Qu’on partage le royaume et qu’on accorde aux fils de Kuntī la part qui leur revient ; tel est le dharma éternel, maintenu par la tradition.»
भीष्म उवाच
That justice in governance requires a fair division of rightful inheritance; granting the Kaunteyas their share is presented as sanātana-dharma—an enduring ethical norm rather than mere expediency.
In counsel regarding the dispute over royal rights, the speaker aligns his opinion with Bhishma’s and urges that the sons of Kunti be given half the kingdom through proper apportionment, framing it as the traditional and righteous course.