Shloka 157
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
कालो हेतुं विकुरुते स्वार्थस्तमनुवर्तते
kālo hetuṁ vikurute svārthas tam anuvartate |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Binabago ng panahon maging ang anyo ng mga sanhi at layon; at ang pansariling kapakinabangan ay patuloy na sumusunod sa panahong nagbabago. Nakikita ito nang malinaw ng marunong, samantalang ang karaniwang tao’y basta na lamang sumusunod sa marunong. Kaya, yamang batid kong mabuti ang iyong sariling pakay, huwag mo akong kausapin sa ganyang paraan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Time changes the apparent causes and justifications behind actions, and self-interest adapts to those changes. A wise person recognizes this shifting self-interest and does not get misled by changing pretexts.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he cautions his listener that motives and rationalizations evolve with circumstances. He asserts his discernment of the listener’s self-interest and urges them not to address him with misleading or self-serving arguments.