Shloka 197
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
नृषु तस्मादविश्वास: पुष्कलं हितमात्मन: । 'संक्षेपमें नीतिशास्त्रका सार यह है कि किसीका भी विश्वास न करना ही उत्तम माना गया है; इसलिये दूसरे लोगोंपर विश्वास न करनेमें ही अपना विशेष हित है ।।
nṛṣu tasmād aviśvāsaḥ puṣkalaṃ hitam ātmanaḥ | vadhyante na hi aviśvastāḥ śatrubhir durbalā api ||
Lomaśa berkata: “Karena itu, di antara manusia, tidak menaruh kepercayaan buta adalah perlindungan besar bagi kesejahteraan diri. Sebab bahkan yang lemah pun tidak mudah dibinasakan musuh bila ia tetap waspada dan tidak menjadi lengah karena percaya.”
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
In worldly dealings, one should avoid blind trust; cautious vigilance protects one’s welfare. Even a weak person becomes hard to harm when they do not give enemies an opening through credulity.
Lomaśa is presenting a nīti (practical ethical maxim) within the Shānti Parva’s instruction: he advises that prudent non-reliance on others is a form of self-guarding, especially in the presence of potential hostility.