Shloka 11
Adhyāya 177: Pañca-mahābhūta-vicāra and Vṛkṣa-jīva-lakṣaṇa
Five Elements Inquiry and the Status of Plant Life
आकिंचन्ये च राज्ये च विशेष: सुमहानयम् । नित्योद्धिग्नो हि धनवान् मृत्योरास्यगतो यथा,“अकिंचनता तथा राज्यमें बड़ा भारी अन्तर यह है कि धनी राजा सदा इस प्रकार उद्विग्न रहता है, मानो मौतके मुखमें पड़ा हुआ हो
ākiñcanye ca rājye ca viśeṣaḥ sumahān ayam | nityoddhigno hi dhanavān mṛtyor āsyagato yathā ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Antara keadaan tidak memiliki apa-apa dan kerajaan ada perbezaan yang amat besar: orang berharta—walau seorang raja—sentiasa gelisah, seolah-olah sudah jatuh ke dalam mulut Maut.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that wealth and power bring constant insecurity: the rich person lives in continual fear—of loss, rivals, punishment, and death—whereas non-possession (ākiñcanya) supports inner freedom and fearlessness. The verse critiques attachment and highlights detachment as a foundation for peace and dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and the means to peace after the war, Bhishma contrasts life-conditions to show their psychological and ethical consequences. Here he emphasizes the mental burden of kingship/wealth, portraying the wealthy as perpetually alarmed, as if already caught by Death.