Shloka 157
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
कालो हेतुं विकुरुते स्वार्थस्तमनुवर्तते
kālo hetuṁ vikurute svārthas tam anuvartate |
ビーシュマは言った。「時は、原因や動機の姿さえも作り変える。そして利己の思いは、その移ろう時に寄り添って進む。賢者はその利を明らかに見抜くが、凡人はただ賢者の後を追うのみ。ゆえに、私はそなたの利害をよく心得ているのだから、そのような言い方で私に語るべきではない。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time changes the apparent causes and justifications behind actions, and self-interest adapts to those changes. A wise person recognizes this shifting self-interest and does not get misled by changing pretexts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he cautions his listener that motives and rationalizations evolve with circumstances. He asserts his discernment of the listener’s self-interest and urges them not to address him with misleading or self-serving arguments.