Gaṇānāṃ Vṛttiḥ — On the Sustenance and Cohesion of Assemblies
Gaṇa-nīti
भीष्म उवाच गणानां च कुलानां च राज्ञां भरतसत्तम | वैरसंदीपनावेतौ लोभामर्षो नराधिप,भीष्मजीने कहा--भरतश्रेष्ठ! नरेश्वर! गणोंमें, कुलोंमें तथा राजाओंमें वैरकी आग प्रज्वलित करनेवाले ये दो ही दोष हैं--लोभ और अमर्ष
bhīṣma uvāca | gaṇānāṃ ca kulānāṃ ca rājñāṃ bharatasattama | vairasaṃdīpanāvetau lobhāmarṣau narādhipa ||
భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు—ఓ భరతశ్రేష్ఠా, ఓ నరాధిపా! గణాలలో, కులాలలో, రాజులలో వైరం అనే అగ్నిని రగిలించేవి రెండు దోషాలే—లోభము మరియు అమర్షము (అసహనంతో కూడిన కోపము).
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma identifies two primary inner vices that ignite hostility in social and political life—lobha (greed) and amarṣa (resentful intolerance). The ethical point is that controlling desire for gain and the urge to retaliate is essential for preserving harmony in communities, families, and kingdoms.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhishma continues his counsel on governance and dharma, explaining the psychological roots of feuds. He frames greed and amarṣa as the chief sparks that turn ordinary tensions among groups, clans, and rulers into lasting enmity.