Shloka 197
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
नृषु तस्मादविश्वास: पुष्कलं हितमात्मन: । 'संक्षेपमें नीतिशास्त्रका सार यह है कि किसीका भी विश्वास न करना ही उत्तम माना गया है; इसलिये दूसरे लोगोंपर विश्वास न करनेमें ही अपना विशेष हित है ।।
nṛṣu tasmād aviśvāsaḥ puṣkalaṃ hitam ātmanaḥ | vadhyante na hi aviśvastāḥ śatrubhir durbalā api ||
ଲୋମଶ କହିଲେ—ଏହେତୁ ମଣିଷମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅନ୍ଧଭରସା ନ କରିବା ନିଜ ହିତର ବଡ଼ ସୁରକ୍ଷା। କାରଣ ଯେମାନେ ସଚେତନ ରହନ୍ତି, ସେମାନେ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସହଜରେ ନଶ୍ଟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
In worldly dealings, one should avoid blind trust; cautious vigilance protects one’s welfare. Even a weak person becomes hard to harm when they do not give enemies an opening through credulity.
Lomaśa is presenting a nīti (practical ethical maxim) within the Shānti Parva’s instruction: he advises that prudent non-reliance on others is a form of self-guarding, especially in the presence of potential hostility.