Shloka 15
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
पानपो द्वेषण: क्रोधी निर्घण: परुषस्तथा । परोपतापी मित्रश्चुक् तथा प्राणिवधे रत:
pānapo dveṣaṇaḥ krodhī nirghṛṇaḥ paruṣas tathā | paropatāpī mitradhruk tathā prāṇivadhē rataḥ ||
Bhishma said: One should never enter into an alliance with a person who is addicted to drink, driven by hatred, quick to anger, devoid of compassion, harsh in speech, intent on tormenting others, treacherous to friends, and devoted to the killing of living beings. Such a character corrodes trust and turns even well-wishers into victims; therefore, peace or pact with him is unsafe. Likewise, one who constantly searches for others’ faults is also unfit for alliance. Now I shall describe those who are fit to be allied with—listen.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that alliances (sandhi) must be based on reliable character. A person ruled by intoxication, hatred, anger, cruelty, harshness, oppression, betrayal, and violence cannot sustain trust; making peace or pact with such a person invites harm.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about political and ethical prudence. Here he lists types of people unfit for alliance and signals that he will next describe those who are fit partners for peace and cooperation.