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 dit : «Quand bien même on userait sans cesse de paroles d’apaisement, il ne faut pas se fier à celui avec qui l’inimitié est déjà scellée. Le sot qui se fie trop vite est bientôt pris au piège ; car la haine ne s’éteint pas réellement par de douces paroles.»
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.