Shloka 22
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
न विशेषेण गन्तव्यमविच्छिन्नेन वा पुन: । न जातु नाहमस्मीति सुप्रसक्तमसाधुषु
na viśeṣeṇa gantavyam avicchinnena vā punaḥ | na jātu nāham asmīti suprasaktam asādhuṣu ||
Wika ni Śaunaka: “Huwag makisama sa masasama—hindi dahil nahihila ka ng anumang natatanging galing nila, at hindi rin sa pamamagitan ng ugnayang tuluy-tuloy at hindi napuputol. Huwag kailanman maging labis na nakakapit sa kanila na iisipin mong, ‘Kung wala sila, hindi ako mabubuhay,’ sapagkat ang gayong pag-asa ay humahantong sa pagbagsak ng asal at dharma.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Avoid the company of immoral people in every form: do not be lured by a single attractive trait, do not maintain continuous ties, and do not become emotionally dependent on them. Such attachment undermines dharma and judgment.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Śaunaka voices a moral instruction: a ruler (and by extension anyone) should keep distance from the wicked, because sustained contact and attachment corrupt conduct and policy.