Shloka 17
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
यस्त्वमित्रेण संदध्यान्मित्रेण च विरुद्धयते । अर्थयुक्ति समालोक्य सुमहद् विन्दते फलम्
yas tv amitreṇa sandadhyān mitreṇa ca virudhyate | arthayuktiṃ samālokya sumahad vindate phalam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Ang sinumang, sa pagtanaw sa wastong paraan ng kapakinabangan, ay nakikipagtipan kahit sa kaaway kapag ito’y nagsisilbi sa kanyang layon, at handang sumalungat kahit sa mga kaibigan kapag sila’y humahadlang, ay nagkakamit ng napakalaking bunga.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches pragmatic discernment in policy: one should evaluate relationships by artha-yukti (strategic reasoning about benefit and purpose). If circumstances demand, peace with an enemy and resistance to a friend may be justified to secure a larger objective and yield great results.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance and conduct, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on rajadharma. Here he states a principle of alliance-management: do not treat 'friend' and 'enemy' as permanent categories; act after weighing the situation and the intended outcome.