Shloka 24
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
सर्वविद्यातिरेकेण जयमिच्छेन्महीपति: । न मायया न दम्भेन य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मन:,जिस राजाको अपना वैभव बढ़ानेकी इच्छा हो, वह सम्पूर्ण विद्याओंके उत्कर्षद्वारा विजय पानेकी इच्छा करे; दम्भ या पाखण्डद्वारा नहीं
sarvavidyātirekeṇa jayam icchen mahīpatiḥ | na māyayā na dambhena ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seorang raja yang ingin menambah kemakmuran dirinya hendaklah menginginkan kemenangan melalui kecemerlangan dalam segala cabang ilmu; bukan melalui tipu daya, bukan pula melalui kesombongan pamer dan kemunafikan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should pursue success and the growth of his realm through genuine excellence—especially mastery of knowledge and skills—rather than through deception, pretence, or hollow display.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and dharma, Bhishma continues advising on ideal kingship, emphasizing that lasting victory and prosperity arise from cultivated learning and capability, not from manipulative tactics or hypocrisy.