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 ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ രാജാവേ! തങ്ങളെ മഹാപുരുഷന്മാരെന്ന് കരുതുന്ന പലരും അസൂയയും അഹങ്കാരവും നിറഞ്ഞവരാണ്. ഹേ കോസലാധിപാ! നീയും അങ്ങനെ മത്സരിയല്ലല്ലോ?
भीष्म उवाच
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.