Shloka 14
चिरकारि-उपाख्यानम् / The Exemplum of Cirakārī: Deliberation Before Irreversible Action
न हात्यन्तं बलवन्तो भवन्ति सुखिनो5पि वा | तस्मादनार्जवे बुद्धिर्न कार्या ते कदाचन,संसारमें कोई भी न तो अत्यन्त बलवान होते हैं और न बहुत सुखी ही। इसलिये तुम्हें अपनी बुद्धिमें कभी कुटिलताका विचार नहीं लाना चाहिये
na hātyantaṃ balavanto bhavanti sukhino 'pi vā | tasmād anārjave buddhir na kāryā te kadācana ||
Disse Bhīṣma: Neste mundo, ninguém permanece supremamente poderoso para sempre, nem ninguém permanece excessivamente feliz. Por isso, jamais permitas que tua mente se incline à tortuosidade ou à desonestidade; conserva teu juízo livre de engano, pois tal astúcia, ao fim, traz ruína em vez de ganho duradouro.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and happiness are unstable and do not last at their peak; therefore one should not resort to crooked or deceitful thinking. Ethical straightness (ārjava) is urged as the safer and dharmic course.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising the listener (Yudhishthira in the broader frame) on moral policy: he warns against adopting dishonesty, pointing to the impermanence of worldly strength and pleasure.