Shloka 14
धृतराष्ट्रस्य वंशोपदेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Dynastic Counsel on Legitimate Rule
नाहं त्वत्तोडभिकाडूशक्षिष्ये वृत््युपायं जनाधिप । यतो भीष्मस्ततो द्रोणो यद् भीष्मस्त्वाह तत् कुरु
nāhaṃ tvatto ’bhikāṅkṣiṣye vṛttyupāyaṃ janādhipa | yato bhīṣmas tato droṇo yad bhīṣmas tvāha tat kuru ||
Vāyu nói: “Hỡi chúa của loài người, ta không cầu nơi ngươi bất cứ kế sinh nhai nào. Nơi Bhīṣma đứng, nơi ấy Droṇa cũng đứng. Vậy điều Bhīṣma khuyên ngươi—hãy làm theo.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes principled counsel and rightful authority: the speaker refuses material dependence and urges the king to follow the guidance of the most senior and trusted elder (Bhīṣma), implying that sound governance rests on heeding dharmic, experienced advice rather than transactional motives.
Vāyudeva addresses the king (janādhipa), declaring he will not ask for any livelihood or reward, and points out that Droṇa aligns with Bhīṣma; thus the king should act according to Bhīṣma’s instruction—framing Bhīṣma as the decisive voice in the unfolding political-military crisis.