Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 61
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
अर्थयुक्तिमिमां तत्र यथाभूतां निशामय । तव जीवितमिच्छामि त्वं ममेच्छसि जीवितम्
arthayuktim imāṁ tatra yathābhūtāṁ niśāmaya | tava jīvitam icchāmi tvaṁ mam ecchasi jīvitam ||
សូមស្តាប់ហេតុផលនេះឲ្យច្បាស់ ដូចដែលវាមានពិតក្នុងស្ថានការណ៍នេះ។ ខ្ញុំប្រាថ្នារក្សាជីវិតរបស់អ្នក ហើយអ្នកក៏ប្រាថ្នារក្សាជីវិតរបស់ខ្ញុំដែរ។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical appeal grounded in clear-eyed realism (yathābhūtam): when two parties are mutually dependent for survival, one should recognize the shared interest and act with reciprocal protection rather than hostility.
Bhishma introduces a practical argument to the listener, asking them to hear the situation as it truly is: each wants the other to live, implying a relationship of mutual safeguarding and a basis for cooperation.