Shloka 158
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
स्वार्थ प्राज्ञोडभिजानाति प्राज्ञं लोको<नुवर्तते । न त्वीदृशं त्वया वाच्यं विदुषि स्वार्थपण्डिते
svārthaṁ prājño ’bhijānāti prājñaṁ loko ’nuvartate | na tv īdṛśaṁ tvayā vācyaṁ viduṣi svārthapaṇḍite ||
Orang bijak memahami kepentingan diri dengan tepat, dan orang banyak cenderung mengikuti orang bijak. Karena itu, engkau tidak patut berbicara demikian kepada seorang terpelajar yang mahir menimbang motif dan kepentingan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom includes the ability to recognize self-interest and hidden motives; the wise are naturally followed, so one should speak honestly and appropriately before a discerning elder who can see through self-serving arguments.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction setting, Bhishma is advising and correcting the listener’s manner of speech, asserting that he understands the other’s self-interest and that such insinuating or self-justifying talk is unnecessary before someone learned in motives.