Shloka 139
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
एवमेवोपभोगेषु भोजनाच्छादनेषु च । गुणेषु परिमेयेषु निग्रहानुग्रहं प्रति,इसी प्रकार उपभोग, भोजन, आच्छादन तथा अन्यान्य परिमित विषयोंके सेवनमें और दुष्टोंके दमन एवं शिष्ट पुरुषोंके प्रति अनुग्रहके विषयमें भी राजा सदा ही परतन्त्र है। इसी प्रकार वह बहुत थोड़े कार्योंमें भी स्वतन्त्र नहीं है तो भी उनमें आसक्त रहता है। संधि और विग्रह करनेमें भी राजाको कहाँ स्वतन्त्रता प्राप्त है?
evamevopabhogeṣu bhojanācchādaneṣu ca | guṇeṣu parimeyeṣu nigrahānugrahaṁ prati ||
భీష్ముడు అన్నాడు—అలాగే భోగాలలో, భోజన-వస్త్రాలలో, ఇతర పరిమిత విషయాలలోనూ; దుష్టులను నియంత్రించడం, శిష్టులపై అనుగ్రహం చూపడం వంటి కర్తవ్యాలలోనూ (రాజు) బంధితుడే.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s apparent power is bounded by dharma, practical necessity, and the welfare of subjects; even pleasures, punishments, rewards, and decisions of peace or war are not matters of personal whim but constrained duties requiring restraint and discernment.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising the ruler (Yudhishthira) that royal authority is limited: the king must regulate personal enjoyments and govern through measured punishment and benevolence, and even major policies like treaty or conflict are shaped by circumstances and obligation.