Shloka 11
Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)
अनार्या ये न जानन्ति समयं मन्दचेतस: । तेभ्य: परिजुगुप्सेथा ये चापि समयच्युता:
anāryā ye na jānanti samayaṃ mandacetasaḥ | tebhyaḥ parijugupsethā ye cāpi samayacyutāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “Those who are ignoble and dull-witted do not understand the binding force of an agreement or vow; and those who have also fallen away from their pledged word—against such people you should remain guarded, keeping yourself protected. The ethical point is clear: reliability and fidelity to one’s promise are marks of ārya conduct, while habitual breach of commitment makes a person untrustworthy and socially dangerous.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person’s trustworthiness is measured by fidelity to samaya (pledge/agreement). Those who repeatedly break promises are ethically ‘anārya’ and should be treated with caution, since their unreliability can cause harm.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he offers practical moral counsel: identify people who do not respect commitments and protect yourself from the risks created by their habitual breach of vows.