Shloka 19
Garuḍa’s Breach of the Amṛta-Guard and Boons with Viṣṇu; Encounter with Indra (Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 29)
ततः स्वार्थपरान् मूढान् पृथग्भूतान् स्वकैर्धनै: । विदित्वा भेदयन्त्येतानमित्रा मित्ररूपिण:,*वे स्वार्थपरायण मूढ़ मनुष्य अपने धनके साथ जब अलग-अलग हो जाते हैं, तब उनकी यह अवस्था जानकर शत्रु भी मित्ररूपमें आकर मिलते और उनमें भेद डालते रहते हैं
tataḥ svārthaparān mūḍhān pṛthagbhūtān svakair dhanaiḥ | viditvā bhedayanty etān amitrā mitrarūpiṇaḥ ||
Тогда, видя, что глупцы, движимые корыстью, разошлись порознь, каждый прижав к себе своё богатство, враги, приняв облик друзей, подходят к ним и без конца сеют между ними раздор.
कश्यप उवाच
Educational Q&A
Self-interest and attachment to personal wealth isolate people from one another; once divided, they become easy targets for manipulation—especially by enemies who pretend to be friends and exploit the fracture to create further discord.
Kaśyapa states a general observation about social and moral vulnerability: when people become separated due to selfish motives and possessions, adversaries recognize the opportunity, enter under a friendly appearance, and actively foment divisions among them.