Shloka 18
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
यज्ञदाने प्रशाध्यस्मै ब्राह्मणाननुवर्ण्य तान् । ते त्वां प्रतिकरिष्यन्ति तं भोक्ष्यन्ति वृका इव,तुम मिथिलाके प्रसिद्ध ब्राह्मणोंकी प्रशंसा करके उनके द्वारा विदेहराजको बड़े-बड़े यज्ञ और दान करनेका उपदेश दिलाओ। नित्य ही वे ब्राह्मण तुम्हारा उपकार करेंगे और विदेहराजको भेड़ियोंके समान नोच खायेंगे
bhīṣma uvāca | yajñadāne praśādhyasmai brāhmaṇān anuvarya tān | te tvāṃ pratikariṣyanti taṃ bhokṣyanti vṛkā iva ||
مِتھلا کے مشہور برہمنوں کی تعریف کر کے انہی کے ذریعے وِدِیہہ راجا کو بڑے بڑے یَجْن اور دان کرنے کا مشورہ دلواؤ۔ وہ برہمن روزانہ تمہارا احسان چکائیں گے اور وِدِیہہ راجا کو بھیڑیوں کی طرح نوچ کھائیں گے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights a hard-edged lesson in statecraft: praise and patronage of influential religious elites can be used to sway a ruler toward costly sacrifices and gifts. The verse simultaneously implies an ethical warning—unchecked flattery and institutional power can turn into predation on the king’s resources, ‘like wolves’ consuming their prey.
Bhishma is giving counsel within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on governance and conduct. He describes a tactic: commend certain Brahmins to the king of Videha (associated with Mithila), thereby steering the king into grand rituals and donations; in return those Brahmins will favor the adviser, while the king becomes the one exploited.