Shloka 140
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
परतन्त्र: सदा राजा स्वल्पेष्वपि प्रसज्जते । संधिविग्रहयोगे च कुतो राज्ञ: स्वतन्त्रता
paratantraḥ sadā rājā svalpeṣv api prasajjate | sandhi-vigraha-yoge ca kuto rājñaḥ svatantratā ||
Sabi ni Bhīṣma: “Laging nakaasa sa iba ang hari, ngunit kumakapit pa rin kahit sa maliliit na bagay. Maging sa mahalagang usapin ng pakikipagkasundo o pakikidigma, saan masusumpungan ang kasarinlan ng isang hari? Ang kanyang pamamahala ay napipigil ng mga tagapayo, mga kapanalig, mga kaaway, mga yaman, at kaayusang panlipunan; kaya kahit wala siyang tunay na kalayaang pumili, kumakapit pa rin siya sa mga ginhawang may hangganan at sa bigat ng pamumuno.”
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that political power does not equal personal freedom: a king is structurally dependent on ministers, allies, enemies, resources, and circumstances, so he should govern with restraint and realism rather than imagining absolute autonomy.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira, emphasizing the constraints of kingship—especially in decisions of peace and war—and warning against attachment to even minor pleasures or choices.