Shloka 32
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
राजा च क्षत्ता च महानुभावौ भीष्मे स्थिते परवन्तौ भवेताम् | अयं तु धर्मज्ञतया महात्मा न कामयेद् यो नृवरो नदीज:
rājā ca kṣattā ca mahānubhāvau bhīṣme sthite paravantau bhavetām | ayaṃ tu dharmajñatayā mahātmā na kāmayed yo nṛvaro nadījaḥ ||
Vidura berkata: “Selagi Bhīṣma masih hidup, baik raja (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) mahupun kṣattā (Vidura), walau sebesar mana pun wibawa mereka, tetap bergantung kepadanya—tiada ruang yang sah untuk mengambil kedaulatan ketika beliau masih ada. Namun insan terbaik itu, yang berhati agung, putera sungai (Gaṅgā), justeru kerana mengetahui dharma, tidak pun berhasrat untuk memegang takhta.”
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority is not merely a matter of power but of dharma and rightful order: while Bhīṣma lives, others remain constrained by his seniority and standing; yet Bhīṣma’s own dharma-knowledge expresses itself as restraint—he does not covet kingship.
Vidura is characterizing the political reality at Hastināpura: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Vidura, despite their eminence, remain effectively under Bhīṣma’s overriding authority. He then highlights Bhīṣma’s ethical stature—though capable, he does not wish to seize rule.