Shloka 44
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
अयमत्यन्तशत्रुमें वैषम्यं परमं गत: । मूढो ग्राहयितुं स्वार्थ सड्भत्या यदि शक््यते
ayam atyantaśatru me vaiṣamyaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ | mūḍho grāhayituṃ svārthaṃ saṅgatyā yadi śakyate ||
قال بهيشما: «إن هذا لعدوّي اللدود حقًّا، وقد سقط في أشدّ الضيق والبلاء. ومع ذلك، إن أمكن، فعليّ أن أحاول أن أحمل هذا الأحمق على قبول طريقٍ يخدم مصلحتي—بأن أستدرجه إلى حلفٍ ومصالحة».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a hard ethical tension in practical life: even toward an enemy, one may consider strategic association when circumstances create leverage. It invites reflection on when pragmatic self-interest is permissible and how it should be restrained by dharma.
Bhishma describes a situation where a sworn enemy has fallen into severe trouble. Seeing an opportunity, he considers persuading the enemy—through companionship or alliance—to agree to something that advances Bhishma’s own objective.