Shloka 39
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
विश्वस्तवदविश्व॒स्तस्तेषु वर्तेत सर्वदा । न हि दोषो गुणो वेति निरूप्यस्तेषु दृश्यते
viśvastavad aviśvastas teṣu varteta sarvadā | na hi doṣo guṇo veti nirūpyas teṣu dṛśyate ||
Bhīṣma dit : Il ne faut pas leur accorder une confiance véritable ; et pourtant, il faut toujours se comporter envers eux comme si l’on avait confiance. Car, à leur égard, il ne semble ni nécessaire—ni même possible—d’arrêter un jugement final : seraient-ils entièrement fautifs ou entièrement vertueux.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain prudent caution internally, but preserve outward civility and steady conduct. Do not rush to label people as purely virtuous or purely flawed; instead, act with measured restraint and consistent propriety.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and practical statecraft. Here he offers guidance on how to deal with uncertain or mixed-character persons: be wary in trust, yet behave in a composed, non-provocative manner.