Shloka 32
Kṣemadarśa–Kālakavṛkṣīya Saṃvāda: Counsel on Impermanence, Non-attachment, and Composure in Dispossession
ईर्याभिमानसम्पन्ना राजन् पुरुषमानिन: । कच्चित् त्वं न तथा राजन् मत्सरी कोसलाधिप,राजन! अपनेको पुरुष माननेवाले बहुत-से मनुष्य ईर्ष्या और अहंकारसे भरे होते हैं। कोसलनरेश! क्या तुम ऐसे ईर्ष्यालु तो नहीं हो?
īrṣyābhimānasampannā rājan puruṣamāninaḥ | kaccit tvaṃ na tathā rājan matsarī kosalādhipa ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja, banyak orang yang menganggap dirinya lelaki utama, namun dipenuhi iri hati dan kesombongan. Wahai penguasa Kosala, katakan—engkau bukan termasuk yang demikian, yang dengki dan bermusuhan, bukan?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that self-importance often breeds jealousy and spite; a ruler should examine himself and avoid these inner faults, since they corrupt judgment and dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma addresses a king (the ruler of Kosala) and questions him directly, probing whether he is free from envy and pride—vices that undermine good governance.