Shloka 178
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
“जो बलवान् और पापी हो, वह शान्तभावसे रहता हो तो भी मुझे सदा उससे डरना चाहिये। यदि तुम्हें मुझसे कोई स्वार्थ सिद्ध नहीं करना है तो बताओ मैं तुम्हारा (इसके अतिरिक्त) कौन-सा कार्य करूँ? ।।
kāmaṃ sarvaṃ pradāsyāmi na tvātmānaṃ kadācana | ātmārthe santatis tyājyā rājyaṃ ratnaṃ dhanāni ca ||
毗湿摩说道：“你所欲求的一切——尽皆可赐——然而我绝不交出我自身（我的操守与正当的自主）。为了自身真正的利益，甚至子嗣也可能必须舍弃；同样也包括王国、珍宝与财富。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One may concede external possessions—even the most valued worldly assets—but should not surrender the self: one’s moral agency, integrity, and dharmic autonomy. When higher self-interest (ātmārtha) is at stake, even attachments to lineage, sovereignty, and wealth may need to be relinquished.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and ethics, Bhishma addresses a request or demand placed upon him. He draws a boundary: he is willing to grant material or practical boons, but he refuses anything that would compromise his essential self or dharma, emphasizing the priority of inner integrity over external power and possessions.