Shloka 14
Khaḍgotpattiḥ (Origin and Dharmic Function of the Sword) | खड्गोत्पत्तिः
प्रत्यक्ष तु कुरुश्रेष्ठ त्यज लोभमिहात्मना । त्यक्त्वा लोभ॑ सुखं लोके प्रेत्य चानुचरिष्यसि
pratyakṣaṃ tu kuruśreṣṭha tyaja lobham ihātmanā | tyaktvā lobhaṃ sukhaṃ loke pretya cānucariṣyasi ||
भीष्म बोले— हे कुरुश्रेष्ठ! तुम स्वयं प्रयत्न करके यहाँ प्रत्यक्ष दिखाई देने वाले इस लोभ का त्याग करो। लोभ को त्यागकर तुम इस लोक में भी सुख पाओगे और मृत्यु के बाद परलोक में भी; और कल्याणपूर्वक विचरोगे।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed is a plainly observable source of suffering and moral downfall; therefore one should renounce it through one’s own conscious effort. Such renunciation yields well-being both in this life (social harmony, inner peace) and in the post-death state (favorable spiritual outcome).
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and right conduct after the war. Here he gives direct ethical counsel: abandon greed, because its consequences are visible in the present and it obstructs lasting happiness in both worldly and otherworldly terms.