Shloka 159
अकाले हि समर्थस्य स्नेहहेतुरयं तव । तस्मान्नाहं चले स्वार्थात् सुस्थिर: संधिविग्रहे,“तुम शक्तिशाली हो तो भी जो बेसमय मुझपर इतना स्नेह दिखा रहे हो, इसका यह स्वार्थ ही कारण है; अतः मैं भी अपने स्वार्थसे विचलित नहीं हो सकता। संधि और विग्रहके विषयमें मेरा विचार सुनिश्चित है
akāle hi samarthasya snehahētur ayaṁ tava | tasmān nāhaṁ cale svārthāt susthiraḥ saṁdhivigrahē ||
Bhishma said: “Even though you are capable, this untimely display of affection toward me has self-interest as its motive. Therefore I too cannot be moved away from my own interest; my resolve regarding peace and hostility is firm and settled.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights that apparent affection shown at an inopportune moment may be driven by ulterior motives, and he asserts the importance of steady resolve in matters of policy—whether to pursue reconciliation (saṁdhi) or conflict (vigraha)—without being swayed by strategic flattery.
In the Shanti Parva’s discourse on governance and conduct, Bhishma responds to an interlocutor’s sudden friendliness by interpreting it as interest-driven persuasion. He declares that he will not abandon his own considered stance and remains firm about the course to take regarding peace or war.