Shloka 142
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
यदा ह्ाज्ञापयत्यन्यांस्तत्रास्योक्ता स्वतन्त्रता । अवश:ः कार्य ते तत्र तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् क्षणे स्थित:
yadā hy ājñāpayaty anyāṁs tatrāsyoktā svatantratā | avaśaḥ kāryate tatra tasmiṁs tasmin kṣaṇe sthitaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Quand un roi donne des ordres aux autres, on dit que son indépendance se révèle dans cet acte même. Et pourtant, même alors—à chaque instant—bien qu’assis sur le trône, il peut être contraint par des ministres conseillers d’agir contre sa propre volonté.»
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal authority is not absolute: a king may appear independent when commanding others, but in practice his decisions can be constrained by advisers and political pressures, so true agency in governance is complex and contingent.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and governance in the Shanti Parva, he reflects on the realities of rule: even a throne-seated king can be driven, at different moments, to act contrary to his own preference due to ministerial counsel.