Shloka 14
चिरकारि-उपाख्यानम् / The Exemplum of Cirakārī: Deliberation Before Irreversible Action
न हात्यन्तं बलवन्तो भवन्ति सुखिनो5पि वा | तस्मादनार्जवे बुद्धिर्न कार्या ते कदाचन
na hātyantaṃ balavanto bhavanti sukhino 'pi vā | tasmād anārjave buddhir na kāryā te kadācana ||
毗湿摩说道：在这世间，无人能永远至强，也无人能永远极乐。因此，你切莫让心智倾向于曲诈与不诚；当使判断远离欺诳，因为此等狡计终究招致败亡，而非长久之利。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and happiness are unstable and do not last at their peak; therefore one should not resort to crooked or deceitful thinking. Ethical straightness (ārjava) is urged as the safer and dharmic course.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma continues advising the listener (Yudhishthira in the broader frame) on moral policy: he warns against adopting dishonesty, pointing to the impermanence of worldly strength and pleasure.