Shloka 18
Adhyāya 164: Gautama as Guest; Kaśyapa’s Satkāra and the Fourfold Arthagati; Journey to Virūpākṣa
विभ्रमाल्लोकबाह्वानां द्वेष्यैर्वाक्यैरसम्मतै: । कुत्सा संजायते राजॉलल्लोकान प्रेक्ष्याभिशाम्यति
vibhramāl lokabāhyānāṃ dveṣyair vākyair asammataiḥ | kutsā saṃjāyate rājann al lokān prekṣyābhiśāmyati ||
Bhishma bersabda: Wahai Raja, bila seseorang menjadi bingung oleh kata-kata penuh kebencian dan tak dapat dipercaya dari orang-orang hina yang tersingkir dari pergaulan mulia, muncullah kebiasaan mencela dan mencari-cari cela. Namun ketika memandang insan-insan luhur, kecenderungan itu menjadi tenang dan mereda.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Malicious and untrustworthy talk from degraded company breeds a habit of censure, but the sight and association of noble people calms that impulse; therefore one should avoid corrupt influences and seek the company of the good.
In Bhishma’s instruction to the king in the Shanti Parva, he explains how a ruler’s mind can be disturbed by hostile, unreliable counsel from unworthy persons, and how exposure to virtuous people restores calm and right judgment.