Shloka 139
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
एवमेवोपभोगेषु भोजनाच्छादनेषु च । गुणेषु परिमेयेषु निग्रहानुग्रहं प्रति
evamevopabhogeṣu bhojanācchādaneṣu ca | guṇeṣu parimeyeṣu nigrahānugrahaṁ prati ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Demikian juga, dalam hal kenikmatan—makanan, pakaian, dan keselesaan lain yang terbatas serta dapat diukur—raja tidaklah benar-benar bebas. Begitu juga dalam dua tugas: mengekang orang jahat dan mengurniai yang berkelakuan baik, dia mesti bertindak di bawah kekangan. Bahkan dalam sedikit urusan yang tampak seolah-olah ada pilihan, dia tetap terikat oleh keterlekatan dan keperluan. Dan dalam membuat perdamaian atau melancarkan perang, di manakah kemerdekaan sebenar seorang raja?”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s apparent power is bounded by dharma, practical necessity, and the welfare of subjects; even pleasures, punishments, rewards, and decisions of peace or war are not matters of personal whim but constrained duties requiring restraint and discernment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising the ruler (Yudhishthira) that royal authority is limited: the king must regulate personal enjoyments and govern through measured punishment and benevolence, and even major policies like treaty or conflict are shaped by circumstances and obligation.