Shloka 13
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
अमित्रो मित्रतां याति मित्र चापि प्रदुष्यति । सामर्थ्ययोगात् कार्याणामनित्या वै सदा गति:
amitraḥ mitratāṁ yāti mitraṁ cāpi praduṣyati | sāmarthyayogāt kāryāṇām anityā vai sadā gatiḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Oleh daya keadaan dan kemampuan yang berubah-ubah dalam urusan dunia, musuh dapat beralih menjadi sahabat, dan sahabat pun dapat ternoda oleh permusuhan. Sesungguhnya, arus persahabatan dan permusuhan tidak pernah tetap; ia senantiasa tak kekal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Relationships of friendship and enmity are not permanent; they change according to shifting circumstances, capacities, and practical interests. Therefore one should judge situations with discernment rather than assuming fixed loyalties.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and practical wisdom after the war. Here he highlights the instability of alliances: an enemy can become a friend, and a friend can turn hostile, depending on the changing dynamics of worldly affairs.