Shloka 15
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
शत्रुं च मित्ररूपेण सान्त्वेनैवाभिसान्त्वयेत् । नित्यशश्रोद्विजेत् तस्माद् गृहात् सर्पयुतादिव
śatruṁ ca mitrarūpeṇa sāntvenāivābhisāntvayet | nityaśaśrodvijet tasmād gṛhāt sarpayutādiva ||
قال بهيشما: حتى العدوّ إذا أتى في هيئة صديق، فليُلاقَ بكلماتٍ مُهدِّئة وبمصالحةٍ ظاهرة؛ غير أنّه ينبغي أن يبقى المرء متيقّظًا له على الدوام—كما يتيقّظ لبيتٍ يأوي حيّة.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Practice diplomatic gentleness even toward an enemy who presents himself as a friend, but do not surrender vigilance; outward conciliation should be paired with inward caution, since hidden hostility can strike like a snake concealed in a home.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and statecraft, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira how to deal with potentially dangerous people: respond with calming, non-provocative speech, yet remain alert to deception and latent threat.