Shloka 177
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
प्रशान्तादपि मे पापाद् भेतव्यं बलिन: सदा । यदि स्वार्थ न ते कार्य ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
praśāntād api me pāpād bhetavyaṃ balinaḥ sadā | yadi svārtha na te kārya brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te ||
ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—എന്റെ പാപം ശമിച്ചെന്നു തോന്നിയാലും ശക്തനായവനെ എപ്പോഴും ഭയപ്പെടണം. നിനക്കു സ്വാർത്ഥലക്ഷ്യം ഒന്നുമില്ലെങ്കിൽ പറയുക—ഞാൻ നിനക്കായി എന്ത് ചെയ്യണം?
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights political-ethical prudence: even when a harmful act appears settled, one should remain cautious of the powerful, and one should clarify another’s intention—especially whether it is driven by self-interest—before deciding how to respond.
In the instruction-filled Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma speaks to his interlocutor in a reflective, advisory tone, warning about the enduring risk posed by powerful agents and asking directly what the other person truly wants him to do, particularly if no personal gain is being sought.