Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! वे गीध और गीदड़ दोनों ही भूखे थे और अपने उद्देश्यकी सिद्धिके लिये मृतकके बन्धु-बान्धवोंसे बातें करते थे। गीध कहता था कि सूर्य अस्त हो गये और सियार कहता था नहीं ।।
svakāryabaddhakakṣau tau rājan gṛdhro 'tha jambukaḥ | kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntau śāstram ālambya jalpataḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、禿鷲と山犬(ジャッカル)はともに飢えており、それぞれ自分の目的を成し遂げようと躍起であった。飢えと渇きに疲れ果てながらも、彼らは『聖典の理』に寄りかかって論争し、学識めいた言葉で己の主張を正当化したのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights how people driven by appetite and self-interest can cloak their motives in the language of authority (śāstra). Ethical discernment requires seeing through clever argumentation to the underlying intention.
Bhishma describes a dispute between a vulture and a jackal, both hungry and intent on gaining their objective. They argue while citing ‘scriptural’ authority, illustrating a contest of self-serving interpretations.