Shloka 41
Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)
मयि जीवति राज्यं कः सम्प्रशासेत् पुमानिह । मावमंस्था वचो महां शममिच्छामि व: सदा
mayi jīvati rājyaṁ kaḥ sampraśāset pumān iha | māvamamsthā vaco mahān śamam icchāmi vaḥ sadā ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Tant que je suis en vie, quel homme ici oserait gouverner le royaume contre ma volonté ? Ne méprisez donc pas mes paroles. Je désire sans cesse que la paix et la concorde demeurent parmi vous.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority must be exercised to restrain disorder, and elders’ counsel should be heeded when it aims at śama (peace). Bhīṣma frames his authority as a means to prevent reckless governance and to preserve concord.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Bhīṣma asserts that while he lives no one should override his will in matters of rule, and he urges the parties not to dismiss his counsel, emphasizing his constant wish for peace among them.