Shloka 32
Adhyāya 159 — Dāna–Dakṣiṇā, Āpaddharma Measures, and Prāyaścitta Classifications
येष्वलोभस्तथामोहो ये च सत्यार्जवे स्थिता: । तेषु कौन्तेय रज्येथा येषां न भ्रश्यते पुन:
yeṣv alobhas tathā moho ye ca satyārjave sthitāḥ | teṣu kaunteya rajyethā yeṣāṃ na bhraśyate punaḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—اے کُنتی نندن! جن میں لالچ اور فریبِ نفس نہیں، جو سچ اور سادگی میں قائم ہیں، اور جو پھر کبھی نیک چلنی سے نہیں پھسلتے—تمہاری محبت اور بھروسا انہی پر ہونا چاہیے؛ کیونکہ اُن کا کردار دھرم سے نہیں ڈگمگاتا۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should form close bonds and place trust in people who are free from greed and delusion, grounded in truth and straightforwardness, and unwavering in good conduct; stable virtue is the criterion for worthy association.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction to Yudhishthira after the war, Bhishma continues teaching principles of righteous living and governance, advising whom a king (and any person) should value and rely upon—those of steady, incorruptible character.