Shloka 15
Nīti-upadeśa to a Rājaputra: Self-restraint, Alliances, and Rival-Management (नीतिउपदेशः)
रमस्व परमामित्रे विषये प्राज्ञसम्मत: । भजस्व श्वेतकाकीयैर्मित्रधर्ममनर्थकै:ः
ramasva paramāmitre viṣaye prājñasammataḥ | bhajasva śvetakākīyair mitradharmam anarthakaiḥ ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—জ্ঞানীদের অনুমোদিত, বৈরশূন্য রাজ্যে সন্তোষে বাস করো। আর শ্বেতকাকের মতো যে ‘মিত্রধর্ম’—যা শেষ পর্যন্ত অনর্থ ডেকে আনে ও ফলহীন—তার সঙ্গ করো না।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Choose associations that are endorsed by the wise and conducive to peace; avoid forms of ‘friendship’ that are merely nominal and end in harm (anartha). True mitra-dharma is measured by benefit, loyalty, and ethical steadiness—not by outward claims.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and prudent conduct. Here he advises living in a secure, non-hostile sphere and warns against aligning with a deceptive or ruinous type of companion, exemplified by the proverbial ‘Śvetakāka’.