Shloka 196
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
संक्षेपो नीतिशास्त्राणामविश्वास: परो मत:
saṅkṣepo nītiśāstrāṇām aviśvāsaḥ paro mataḥ
Sinabi ni Lomaśa: “Sa madaling sabi, ang pinakamataas na pasya ng lahat ng kasulatan tungkol sa pamamahala at asal ay ito: huwag basta magtiwala—ang mapagbantay na di-pagpapadala sa tiwala ang pinakadakilang patakaran.”
लोमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condenses nīti (practical ethics/statecraft) into a single maxim: the safest and most effective policy is cautious non-trust—maintaining vigilance and not relying blindly on others.
Within Śānti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, Lomaśa delivers a compact aphorism, presenting what he calls the supreme conclusion of nītiśāstra: a ruler or prudent person should remain guarded and not be credulous.