Shloka 157
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
कालो हेतुं विकुरुते स्वार्थस्तमनुवर्तते,“समय कारणके स्वरूपको बदल देता है; और स्वार्थ उस समयका अनुसरण करता रहता है। विद्वान् पुरुष उस स्वार्थको समझता है और साधारण लोग विद्वान् पुरुषके ही पीछे चलते हैं। तात्पर्य यह है कि मैं विद्वान् हूँ; इसलिये तुम्हारे स्वार्थको अच्छी तरह समझता हूँ; अतः तुम्हें मुझसे ऐसी बात नहीं कहनी चाहिये
kālo hetuṁ vikurute svārthas tam anuvartate |
Bhishma said: “Time reshapes even the very form of causes and motives; and self-interest keeps following along with that changing time. The wise discern this self-interest clearly, while ordinary people merely trail behind the wise. Therefore, since I understand your interest well, you should not speak to me in that manner.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time changes the apparent causes and justifications behind actions, and self-interest adapts to those changes. A wise person recognizes this shifting self-interest and does not get misled by changing pretexts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he cautions his listener that motives and rationalizations evolve with circumstances. He asserts his discernment of the listener’s self-interest and urges them not to address him with misleading or self-serving arguments.