Shloka 19
चिरकारि-उपाख्यानम् / The Exemplum of Cirakārī: Deliberation Before Irreversible Action
यदा नियतिकार्पण्यमथैषामेव रोचते । न हात्यन्तं धनवन्तो भवन्ति सुखिनो5पि वा,परंतु यदि भाग्यवश वे भी निर्धन या दर-दरके भिखारी हो जाते हैं, उस समय उनको भी यह धर्म उत्तम जान पड़ता है; क्योंकि कोई भी न तो अत्यन्त धनवान् होते हैं और न अतिशय सुखी ही हुआ करते हैं (अत: धनका अभिमान नहीं करना चाहिये)
yadā niyati-kārpaṇyam athaiṣām eva rocate | na hi atyantaṃ dhanavanto bhavanti sukhino 'pi vā |
यदा नियतिकार्पण्यं स्वयमेवेषामनुभवगोचरं भवति तदैवायं धर्मोऽपि तेषां रोचते। न हि कश्चिदत्यन्तं धनवान् भवति, न च कश्चिदतिशयेन सुखी। तस्माद्धने नाभिमानः कार्यः।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wealth and happiness are unstable; since fate can reduce anyone to hardship, one should abandon arrogance based on riches and cultivate humility and dharmic conduct.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he reflects on how people endorse moral restraint especially when they themselves experience misfortune, emphasizing the universal impermanence of prosperity.