Shloka 158
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
स्वार्थ प्राज्ञोडभिजानाति प्राज्ञं लोको<नुवर्तते । न त्वीदृशं त्वया वाच्यं विदुषि स्वार्थपण्डिते
svārthaṁ prājño ’bhijānāti prājñaṁ loko ’nuvartate | na tv īdṛśaṁ tvayā vācyaṁ viduṣi svārthapaṇḍite ||
स्वार्थं प्राज्ञोऽभिजानाति प्राज्ञं लोकोऽनुवर्तते । न त्वीदृशं त्वया वाच्यं विदुषि स्वार्थपण्डिते ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom includes the ability to recognize self-interest and hidden motives; the wise are naturally followed, so one should speak honestly and appropriately before a discerning elder who can see through self-serving arguments.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction setting, Bhishma is advising and correcting the listener’s manner of speech, asserting that he understands the other’s self-interest and that such insinuating or self-justifying talk is unnecessary before someone learned in motives.