Shloka 74
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
सदा न विश्वसेद् राजन् पापं कृत्वेह कस्यचित् । अपकृत्य परेषां हि विश्वासाद् दुः:खमश्लुते
sadā na viśvased rājan pāpaṃ kṛtveha kasyacit | apakṛtya pareṣāṃ hi viśvāsād duḥkham aśnute rājan ||
सदा न विश्वसेद् राजन् पापं कृत्वेह कस्यचित्। अपकृत्य परेषां हि विश्वासाद् दुःखमश्नुते॥
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches prudent discernment: after someone has committed wrongdoing, trusting them again is dangerous; misplaced trust in a proven wrongdoer leads to suffering.
In a didactic exchange within the Śānti Parva, Brahmadatta addresses a king and offers counsel on governance and personal conduct, warning that confidence in those who have already acted sinfully or harmed others results in grief.