Shloka 28

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां कृतवैराणामविश्वास: सुखोदय: । एकान्ततो न विश्वास: कार्यो विश्वासघातकै:ः,जो लोग आपसमें वैर रखनेवाले हैं, उन सबके लिये सुखकी प्राप्तिका उपाय यही है कि परस्पर विश्वास न करे। विश्वासघाती मनुष्योंका सर्वथा विश्वास तो करना ही नहीं चाहिये

Transliteration

sarveṣāṁ kṛtavairāṇām aviśvāsaḥ sukhodayaḥ | ekāntato na viśvāsaḥ kāryo viśvāsaghātakaiḥ ||

Translation

ബ്രഹ്മദത്തൻ പറഞ്ഞു—വൈരം കെട്ടിയവർക്കെല്ലാം ക്ഷേമം കാക്കാനുള്ള ഉറച്ച മാർഗം പരസ്പരവിശ്വാസം ഒഴിവാക്കുന്നതാണ്. വിശ്വാസഘാതകരിൽ ഒരിക്കലും പൂർണ്ണവിശ്വാസം വെക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

सर्वेषाम्of all

कृतवैराणाम्of those who have made enmity (mutual enemies)

अविश्वासःdistrust

सुखोदयःrise/attainment of happiness

एकान्ततःentirely, absolutely

नnot

विश्वासःtrust

कार्यःshould be done (is to be made)

विश्वासघातकैःby/with betrayers of trust

Speaker

ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

Brahmadatta

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In situations of established enmity, prudent restraint is advised: do not rely on an enemy’s goodwill, and never give unconditional trust to those known to betray confidence. The verse frames distrust not as cynicism but as a protective discipline that prevents avoidable suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Brahmadatta is delivering counsel in the didactic mode typical of the Śānti Parva, emphasizing practical ethics and political prudence. Here he warns that where hostility or treachery is already proven, trusting behavior becomes dangerous and undermines one’s security and peace.