Shloka 30
Kṣemadarśa–Kālakavṛkṣīya Saṃvāda: Counsel on Impermanence, Non-attachment, and Composure in Dispossession
पुरस्ताद् भूतपूर्वत्वाद्धीनभाग्यो हि दुर्मति: । धातारं ग्ते नित्यं लब्धार्थश्न न मृष्यते
purastād bhūtapūrvatvād dhīna-bhāgyo hi durmatiḥ | dhātāraṃ nindate nityaṃ labdhārthān na mṛṣyate ||
Bhishma berkata: Bila seseorang pernah memiliki kekayaan lalu kehilangannya, ingatan itulah yang membuat si dungu menganggap dirinya bernasib buruk. Ia terus-menerus mencela Sang Penentu (Takdir), dan tak pernah puas dengan apa pun yang datang kepadanya karena daya prarabdha (nasib lampau).
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Past attachment to former prosperity breeds a sense of misfortune and leads to blaming Fate; the ethical remedy implied is contentment and acceptance of what comes through prārabdha (one’s operative destiny), rather than resentment and complaint.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he describes a psychological pattern: a person who once had wealth and then loses it becomes bitter, continually criticizes the cosmic dispenser (Dhātā), and remains dissatisfied even with what he still receives.