Shloka 26
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
सान्त्वे प्रयुक्ते सततं कृतवैरे न विश्वसेत् । क्षिप्रं स बध्यते मूढो न हि वैरं प्रशाम्यति
sāntve prayukte satataṃ kṛtavaire na viśvaset | kṣipraṃ sa badhyate mūḍho na hi vairaṃ praśāmyati ||
Brahmadatta dijo: «Aunque se empleen sin cesar palabras conciliadoras, no debe depositarse confianza en aquel con quien ya se ha trabado enemistad. El necio que confía con demasiada prisa pronto cae preso; pues la enemistad no se apaga de verdad con discursos melosos.»
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not be naïve about established hostility: flattering or conciliatory speech may be strategic, and trusting too quickly can lead to being trapped; real enmity is not automatically extinguished by sweet words.
In a didactic context within Śānti Parva, Brahmadatta offers counsel on conduct and prudence, warning that once enmity is firmly formed, one should be cautious even if the other party repeatedly uses pacifying or diplomatic language.