Dama-pradhāna-dharma (Self-restraint as the Root of Dharma) — Śānti-parva 154
समै: सम्यवप्रयुक्तैश्न वचनै: प्रत्ययोत्तरै: । यद् गच्छति जनश्चायं स्नेहमुत्सूज्य दुस्त्यजम्,गीधके अच्छी युक्तियोंसे मुक्त न्न्यायसंगत और विश्वासोत्पादक प्रतीत होनेवाले वचनोंसे प्रभावित हो ये सब लोग जो दुस्त्यज स्नेहका परित्याग करके चले जा रहे हैं, यह कितने आश्चर्यकी बात है!
samaiḥ samyag-aprayuktaiś ca vacanaiḥ pratyayottaraiḥ | yad gacchati janaś cāyaṃ sneham utsṛjya dustyajam ||
قال جامبوكا: «إنه لأمر يبعث على العجب حقًّا أن هؤلاء القوم، وقد استمالتهم كلمات تبدو متزنة، محكمة التعليل، قادرة على إحداث اليقين، يمضون راحلين—وقد طرحوا جانبًا ذلك الودّ الذي يعسر التخلّي عنه.»
जम्बुक उवाच
The verse highlights how persuasive, seemingly reasonable speech can move people to renounce even deep attachments; it implicitly warns that conviction can be manufactured by rhetoric, so one should examine reasons carefully before abandoning enduring bonds.
Jambuka comments with surprise that people are leaving after being influenced by arguments presented as fair and convincing, and that they are doing so by giving up a hard-to-relinquish affection (sneha).