Shloka 177
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
प्रशान्तादपि मे पापाद् भेतव्यं बलिन: सदा । यदि स्वार्थ न ते कार्य ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
praśāntād api me pāpād bhetavyaṃ balinaḥ sadā | yadi svārtha na te kārya brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Sekalipun kesalahanku tampak telah reda, yang berkuasa tetap patut ditakuti selalu. Jika engkau tidak mengejar kepentingan diri, katakanlah—apa yang harus kulakukan untukmu?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights political-ethical prudence: even when a harmful act appears settled, one should remain cautious of the powerful, and one should clarify another’s intention—especially whether it is driven by self-interest—before deciding how to respond.
In the instruction-filled Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma speaks to his interlocutor in a reflective, advisory tone, warning about the enduring risk posed by powerful agents and asking directly what the other person truly wants him to do, particularly if no personal gain is being sought.