Shloka 107
Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! वे गीध और गीदड़ दोनों ही भूखे थे और अपने उद्देश्यकी सिद्धिके लिये मृतकके बन्धु-बान्धवोंसे बातें करते थे। गीध कहता था कि सूर्य अस्त हो गये और सियार कहता था नहीं ।।
svakāryabaddhakakṣau tau rājan gṛdhro 'tha jambukaḥ | kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntau śāstram ālambya jalpataḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ୍! ଗିଧ ଓ ଶିଆଳ—ଦୁହେଁ ନିଜ-ନିଜ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ସିଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ଦୃଢ଼ ଥିଲେ। ଭୁଖ ଓ ପିଆସରେ କ୍ଲାନ୍ତ ହୋଇ, ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି ତର୍କ କରୁଥିଲେ—ଏକ କହୁଥିଲା ‘ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଅସ୍ତ ହୋଇଗଲା’, ଅନ୍ୟ କହୁଥିଲା ‘ନୁହେଁ’।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how people driven by appetite and self-interest can cloak their motives in the language of authority (śāstra). Ethical discernment requires seeing through clever argumentation to the underlying intention.
Bhishma describes a dispute between a vulture and a jackal, both hungry and intent on gaining their objective. They argue while citing ‘scriptural’ authority, illustrating a contest of self-serving interpretations.