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 dit : «Les êtres ignobles et lents d’esprit ne comprennent ni le moment juste ni la force contraignante d’un accord ou d’un vœu ; et ceux qui, de surcroît, se sont déjà écartés de leur parole donnée—contre de tels hommes, demeure sur tes gardes et protège-toi.»
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.