Shloka 44
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
यदाह भरतमश्रेष्ठो भीष्मस्तत् क्रियतां नूप । न काममर्थलिप्सूनां वचन कर्तुमहसि,“नरेश्वर! भरतकुलतिलक भीष्मजीने जो कहा है, वही कीजिये। जो लोग अर्थ और कामके लोभी हैं, उनकी बातें आपको नहीं माननी चाहिये
yad āha bharataśreṣṭho bhīṣmas tat kriyatāṃ nṛpa | na kāmam arthalipsūnāṃ vacanaṃ kartum arhasi ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O hari, gawin mo ang mismong ipinayo ni Bhīṣma—ang pinakadakila sa angkan ng Bharata. Huwag mong sundin ang payo ng mga taong inuudyukan ng kasakiman sa yaman at aliw ng pita.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should privilege dharmic, seasoned counsel (here, Bhīṣma’s) and reject advice motivated by artha and kāma—material greed and pleasure-seeking—since such motives distort judgment and lead to unrighteous policy.
Vaiśampāyana reports an exhortation to a king in the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war deliberations: the king is urged to implement Bhīṣma’s recommendation and not be swayed by self-interested advisers.