Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 194
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
समाहितकश्चरेद् युक्त्या कृतार्थश्न न विश्वसेत् । “इस विषय में शुक्राचार्यने दो गाथाएँ कही हैं। उन्हें ध्यान देकर सुनो। जब अपने और शत्रुपर एक-सी विपत्ति आयी हो
samāhitakaś cared yuktyā kṛtārthaś ca na viśvaset | na viśvased aviśvaste viśvaste nātiviśvaset ||
Lomaśa berkata: “Hendaklah seseorang, dengan batin yang terkendali, bertindak dengan siasat yang bijaksana; dan setelah tujuannya tercapai, jangan menaruh kepercayaan pada musuh. Jangan percaya kepada yang tak dapat dipercaya; dan bahkan kepada yang tampak dapat dipercaya pun, jangan percaya berlebihan.”
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Use calm, strategic judgment to secure one’s goal, especially amid danger; but after the objective is achieved, do not become careless by trusting an adversary. Distrust the untrustworthy, and even with the seemingly trustworthy, avoid overtrust.
Lomaśa introduces two instructive gāthās attributed to Śukrācārya, presenting a maxim of political-ethical prudence: when facing equal calamity with an enemy, one may make a cautious accommodation to survive and accomplish one’s task, yet should not relax vigilance afterward.