Shloka 157
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
कालो हेतुं विकुरुते स्वार्थस्तमनुवर्तते
kālo hetuṁ vikurute svārthas tam anuvartate |
Dijo Bhishma: «El tiempo transforma incluso la forma misma de las causas y los móviles; y el interés propio va siguiendo a ese tiempo cambiante. El sabio discierne con claridad ese interés, mientras que la gente común no hace sino ir tras el sabio. Por eso, puesto que comprendo bien tu conveniencia, no debes hablarme de ese modo.»
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.