Shloka 150
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
पुत्रा दारास्तथैवात्मा कोशो मित्राणि संचया: । परै: साधारणा होते तैस्तैरेवास्य हेतुभि:
putrā dārās tathaivātmā kośo mitrāṇi sañcayāḥ | paraiḥ sādhāraṇā hy ete tais tair evāsya hetubhiḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「子ら、妻たち、己が身、財、友、そして蓄えられた資源—これらはまことに他の者たちにも等しく備わっている。同じ根拠によって人が『王』と呼ばれるのなら、他の人々もまた彼と等しいと言いうるのだ。」
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma undercuts pride in status: the usual markers of ‘royalty’—family, body, wealth, allies, and stores—are not unique to a king. Since these supports are shared by many, mere possession of them is not a sufficient basis for superiority; true worth must be grounded in dharma and conduct rather than externals.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and righteousness, Bhishma continues advising the listener on the nature of power and identity. Here he argues that what people cite as reasons for calling someone a king are also found in others, challenging inflated notions of rank and urging a more ethical, dharma-based view of leadership.