Shloka 109
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
कृत्वा बलवता संधिमात्मानं यो न रक्षति । अपथ्यमिव तद् भुक्तं तस्य नार्थाय कल्पते,'जो व्यक्ति बलवानसे संधि करके अपनी रक्षाका ध्यान नहीं रखता, उसका वह मेल- जोल खाये हुए अपथ्य अन्नके समान हितकर नहीं होता
kṛtvā balavatā sandhim ātmānaṃ yo na rakṣati | apathyam iva tad bhuktaṃ tasya nārthāya kalpate ||
ビーシュマは言った。「強大な者と盟約を結びながら、自らを守る備えを怠る者にとって、その交わりは益とならぬ。健康に適さぬ食を口にするようなものだ――いったん飲み込めば、もはや良き糧とはならず、害へと変わる。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
An alliance with a stronger party is not automatically beneficial; without vigilance and self-protection, such a pact can turn harmful. Prudence must accompany diplomacy.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma and polity in the Shanti Parva, he warns that merely concluding a treaty (sandhi) is insufficient; one must also secure one’s own position, illustrated through the metaphor of eating unwholesome food.