Shloka 12
अम्बरीषगाथा—गुणत्रयविभागः तथा लोभनिग्रहः
Ambarīṣa’s Gāthā: The Guṇas and the Restraint of Greed
तस्मादेत॑ सम्यगवेक्ष्य लोभ॑ निगृहा धृत्या55त्मनि राज्यमिच्छेत् । एतदू राज्यं नान्यदस्तीह राज्य- मात्मैव राजा विदितो यथावत्,“इसलिये इस लोभके स्वरूपको अच्छी तरह समझकर इसे धैर्यपूर्वक दबाने और आत्मराज्यपर अधिकार पानेकी इच्छा करनी चाहिये। यही वास्तविक स्वराज्य है। यहाँ दूसरा कोई राज्य नहीं है। आत्माका यथार्थ ज्ञान हो जानेपर वही राजा है”
tasmād etat samyag avekṣya lobhaṁ nigṛhya dhṛtyā ātmani rājyam icchet | etad eva rājyam nānyad astīha rājyam ātmā eva rājā vidito yathāvat ||
Therefore, having rightly examined the nature of greed, one should restrain it with steadfastness and seek sovereignty within oneself. This alone is true kingship; here there is no other kingdom. When the Self is known as it truly is, the Self itself is recognized as the king.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greed must be clearly understood and firmly restrained; true kingship is not external dominion but mastery of oneself. With genuine knowledge of the Self, the Self alone stands as the rightful ruler.
A Brahmin speaker delivers a moral instruction: instead of pursuing outward power driven by greed, one should cultivate inner rule through fortitude and self-knowledge, redefining 'kingdom' as sovereignty over one’s own mind and impulses.