Shloka 52
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
“कोई जन्मसे ही मित्र अथवा शत्रु नहीं होता है। सामर्थ्ययोगसे ही शत्रु और मित्र उत्पन्न होते रहते हैं ।। अमित्र नैव मुछ्चेत वदन्तं करुणान्यपि । दुःखं तत्र न कर्तव्यं हन्यात् पूर्वापकारिणम्
na kaścid janmanā mitram athavā śatruḥ bhavati | sāmarthya-yogenaiva śatravaś ca mitrāṇi ca prajāyante || amitraṃ naiva muñcet vadantaṃ karuṇāny api | duḥkhaṃ tatra na kartavyaṃ hanyāt pūrvāpakāriṇam ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: Walang sinuman ang kaibigan o kaaway dahil lamang sa kapanganakan. Sa pagsasanib ng kapangyarihan, kakayahan, at kalagayan, patuloy na lumilitaw ang pagkakaibigan at pagkapoot. Kaya huwag palayain ang kaaway kahit magsalita siya ng mga salitang mahabagin; sa gayong pagkakataon, huwag magpakalunod sa malambot na dalamhati—dapat pabagsakin ang dating nanakit.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Friendship and enmity are not fixed by birth; they arise from changing power-relations and circumstances. In the sphere of kingship and protection of order, Bhishma advises firmness: an established wrongdoer who remains a threat should not be spared merely because he pleads pitifully.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma is counseling Yudhishthira on practical ethics (rajadharma). He frames alliances and hostilities as contingent, then warns against sentimental leniency toward a proven aggressor.