Shloka 92
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
अनज़॒पुत्रो5तिबलो नीतिमानभिगम्य वै । प्रतिपेदे महाराज्यमथेन्द्रियवशो 5भवत्
Anaṅga-putro 'tibalo nītimān abhigamya vai | pratipede mahārājyam athendriya-vaśo 'bhavat ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Atibala, putera Anaṅga, seorang yang kuat dan mahir dalam ilmu kenegaraan, datang menurut tertibnya lalu memperoleh sebuah kerajaan yang luas. Namun setelah meraih kedaulatan, dia jatuh di bawah kuasa hawa nafsu inderanya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a ruler skilled in nīti can fall if he lacks indriya-nigraha (control of the senses). Power and prosperity intensify temptations; therefore, self-restraint is essential to preserve dharma and stable governance.
Bhishma cites Atibala as an example: he acquires a great kingdom through proper means and competence, but after attaining rule he becomes dominated by sensory desires, illustrating how success can lead to moral decline.