Shloka 18
Ānṛśaṃsya, Amātya-Guṇa, and Reconciliatory Counsel (आनृशंस्य–अमात्यगुण–संधि-उपदेशः)
नैव नित्यं जयस्तात नैव नित्यं पराजय: । तस्माद् भोजयितव्यश्व भोक्तव्यश्न॒ परो जन:
naiva nityaṃ jayas tāta naiva nityaṃ parājayaḥ | tasmād bhojayitavyaś ca bhoktavyaś ca paro janaḥ ||
اے عزیز! نہ فتح ہمیشہ رہتی ہے، نہ شکست ہمیشہ۔ اس لیے دوسروں کو بھی بہرہ مند ہونے کا موقع دینا چاہیے—اور یہ بھی ماننا چاہیے کہ اپنی باری میں دوسرے لوگ بھی ہماری خوشحالی سے حصہ پائیں گے۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches the impermanence of worldly outcomes: neither victory nor defeat lasts forever. Hence, a ruler (or any powerful person) should not cling to exclusive enjoyment of gains, but should act with restraint and fairness, allowing others also to partake—recognizing that fortune turns.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Bhishma advises the listener (addressed affectionately as ‘tāta’) on how to view success and loss. He frames political and social conduct around the reality that power shifts, so one should govern and enjoy prosperity without arrogance, and with consideration for others.