Shloka 26
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
सान्त्वे प्रयुक्ते सततं कृतवैरे न विश्वसेत् । क्षिप्रं स बध्यते मूढो न हि वैरं प्रशाम्यति
sāntve prayukte satataṃ kṛtavaire na viśvaset | kṣipraṃ sa badhyate mūḍho na hi vairaṃ praśāmyati ||
Brahmadatta disse: “Ainda que se empreguem continuamente palavras conciliadoras, não se deve confiar em quem já se tem por inimigo. O tolo que confia depressa é logo enredado; pois a inimizade não se extingue de verdade apenas com fala suave.”
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not be naïve about established hostility: flattering or conciliatory speech may be strategic, and trusting too quickly can lead to being trapped; real enmity is not automatically extinguished by sweet words.
In a didactic context within Śānti Parva, Brahmadatta offers counsel on conduct and prudence, warning that once enmity is firmly formed, one should be cautious even if the other party repeatedly uses pacifying or diplomatic language.