Shloka 14
चिरकारि-उपाख्यानम् / The Exemplum of Cirakārī: Deliberation Before Irreversible Action
न हात्यन्तं बलवन्तो भवन्ति सुखिनो5पि वा | तस्मादनार्जवे बुद्धिर्न कार्या ते कदाचन
na hātyantaṃ balavanto bhavanti sukhino 'pi vā | tasmād anārjave buddhir na kāryā te kadācana ||
Di dunia ini tak seorang pun tetap mahakuat untuk selamanya, dan tak seorang pun pula tetap amat bahagia tanpa akhir. Karena itu, jangan sekali-kali biarkan buddhi-mu condong pada kelicikan dan ketidakjujuran; jagalah pertimbanganmu tetap bersih dari tipu daya, sebab siasat semacam itu bukan membawa untung yang langgeng, melainkan kehancuran pada akhirnya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and happiness are unstable and do not last at their peak; therefore one should not resort to crooked or deceitful thinking. Ethical straightness (ārjava) is urged as the safer and dharmic course.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising the listener (Yudhishthira in the broader frame) on moral policy: he warns against adopting dishonesty, pointing to the impermanence of worldly strength and pleasure.