Shloka 52
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“कोई जन्मसे ही मित्र अथवा शत्रु नहीं होता है। सामर्थ्ययोगसे ही शत्रु और मित्र उत्पन्न होते रहते हैं ।। अमित्र नैव मुछ्चेत वदन्तं करुणान्यपि । दुःखं तत्र न कर्तव्यं हन्यात् पूर्वापकारिणम्
na kaścid janmanā mitram athavā śatruḥ bhavati | sāmarthya-yogenaiva śatravaś ca mitrāṇi ca prajāyante || amitraṃ naiva muñcet vadantaṃ karuṇāny api | duḥkhaṃ tatra na kartavyaṃ hanyāt pūrvāpakāriṇam ||
Bhīṣma disse: Ninguém é amigo ou inimigo apenas por nascimento. Pela conjunção de poder, capacidade e circunstância, inimizades e amizades surgem continuamente. Portanto, não se deve soltar o inimigo mesmo que ele profira palavras de compaixão; nesse caso não se deve ceder a um luto de coração brando—deve-se abater aquele que antes causou dano.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Friendship and enmity are not fixed by birth; they arise from changing power-relations and circumstances. In the sphere of kingship and protection of order, Bhishma advises firmness: an established wrongdoer who remains a threat should not be spared merely because he pleads pitifully.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma is counseling Yudhishthira on practical ethics (rajadharma). He frames alliances and hostilities as contingent, then warns against sentimental leniency toward a proven aggressor.