Shloka 17
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
क्षत्रियेषु न विश्वास: कार्य: सर्वापकारिषु । अपकृत्यापि सतत सान्त्वयन्ति निरर्थकम्
kṣatriyeṣu na viśvāsaḥ kāryaḥ sarvāpakāriṣu | apakṛtyāpi satataṃ sāntvayanti nirarthakam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Janganlah menaruh kepercayaan pada para kṣatriya yang cenderung mencelakakan dengan segala cara. Walaupun sudah melakukan kezaliman, mereka tetap berulang kali mengucapkan kata-kata pemujuk—namun penghiburan itu akhirnya kosong dan tiada tujuan yang nyata.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma warns that trust should be withheld from those whose nature is to harm; soothing words offered after wrongdoing can be strategic and empty, so ethical discernment must outweigh pleasant speech.
In the instruction-filled Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues advising on conduct and statecraft, cautioning the listener against relying on warrior-rulers who injure others and then attempt to pacify them with futile consolations.