Shloka 41
Droṇa–Vidura–Gāndhārī Counsel in the Royal Assembly (धर्मार्थयुक्ता सभा-उपदेश-प्रकरणम्)
मयि जीवति राज्यं कः सम्प्रशासेत् पुमानिह । मावमंस्था वचो महां शममिच्छामि व: सदा
mayi jīvati rājyaṁ kaḥ sampraśāset pumān iha | māvamamsthā vaco mahān śamam icchāmi vaḥ sadā ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Chừng nào ta còn sống, người đàn ông nào ở đây dám tự ý cai trị vương quốc trái với ý ta? Vì thế, đừng coi thường lời ta. Ta luôn mong sao giữa các ngươi giữ được hòa bình và hòa thuận.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority must be exercised to restrain disorder, and elders’ counsel should be heeded when it aims at śama (peace). Bhīṣma frames his authority as a means to prevent reckless governance and to preserve concord.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations, Bhīṣma asserts that while he lives no one should override his will in matters of rule, and he urges the parties not to dismiss his counsel, emphasizing his constant wish for peace among them.