Shloka 13
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
ब्रवीम्यहं न कार्पण्यान्नार्थहेतो: कथंचन । भीष्मेण दत्तमिच्छामि न त्वया राजसत्तम
bravīmy ahaṃ na kārpaṇyān nārtha-hetoḥ kathaṃcana | bhīṣmeṇa dattam icchāmi na tvayā rāja-sattama ||
Vāyu berkata: “Aku tidak berkata kerana kehinaan, dan bukan pula demi keuntungan apa pun. Wahai raja yang terbaik, aku menginginkan apa yang telah dianugerahkan oleh Bhīṣma—bukan sesuatu yang datang daripadamu.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds integrity in speech and conduct: one should not speak or act from baseness or greed. It also stresses the ethical weight of a gift’s source—accepting (or seeking) what is rightfully given by a worthy giver, while refusing what would compromise honor or propriety.
Vāyudeva addresses a king and clarifies his motive: he is not petitioning out of poverty or for profit. He insists on receiving only what Bhīṣma has given, explicitly rejecting any substitute offered by the king, thereby asserting principle over convenience.