Shloka 13
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
ब्रवीम्यहं न कार्पण्यान्नार्थहेतो: कथंचन । भीष्मेण दत्तमिच्छामि न त्वया राजसत्तम
bravīmy ahaṃ na kārpaṇyān nārtha-hetoḥ kathaṃcana | bhīṣmeṇa dattam icchāmi na tvayā rāja-sattama ||
Vāyu nói: “Ta không nói vì khốn hèn, cũng chẳng vì mưu lợi. Hỡi bậc vương thượng, ta chỉ mong điều Bhīṣma đã ban—chứ không phải thứ đến từ ngươi.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds integrity in speech and conduct: one should not speak or act from baseness or greed. It also stresses the ethical weight of a gift’s source—accepting (or seeking) what is rightfully given by a worthy giver, while refusing what would compromise honor or propriety.
Vāyudeva addresses a king and clarifies his motive: he is not petitioning out of poverty or for profit. He insists on receiving only what Bhīṣma has given, explicitly rejecting any substitute offered by the king, thereby asserting principle over convenience.