Shloka 10
राज्ञो वृत्त-गुण-संग्रहः (Conduct and the Thirty-Six Virtues of a King) / The King’s Code of Conduct
सेवेत प्रणयं हित्वा दक्ष: स्यान्न त्वकालवित् । सान्त्वयेन्न च मोक्षाय अनुगह्नन्न चाक्षिपेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | seveta praṇayaṃ hitvā dakṣaḥ syān na tv akālavit | sāntvayen na ca mokṣāya anugṛhṇan na cākṣipet ||
भীष्म ने कहा—हठ छोड़कर उचित प्रीति-सम्बन्ध निभाए, पर आसक्ति का दास न बने। कार्य में दक्ष हो, और अवसर-ज्ञान से शून्य न रहे। केवल पिण्ड छुड़ाने के लिए किसी को सान्त्वना या आश्वासन न दे। और कृपा करते समय ताना या आक्षेप न करे।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches balanced ethical conduct: do not let personal attachment distort duty; be competent and also sensitive to timing; do not console others merely to escape responsibility; and when helping, avoid reproach—aid should not humiliate the recipient.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on refined standards of behavior—how a responsible person (especially a ruler or counselor) should manage relationships, act with timely judgment, speak sincerely, and show kindness without insult.