Shloka 65
Vyāghra–Gomāyu Saṃvāda (व्याघ्रगोमायु संवाद) — Testing Character Beneath Appearances
असभ्या: सभ्यसंकाशा: सभ्याक्षासभ्यदर्शना: । दृश्यन्ते विविधा भावास्तेषु युक्त परीक्षणम्
asabhyāḥ sabhya-saṅkāśāḥ sabhyākṣā asabhya-darśanāḥ | dṛśyante vividhā bhāvās teṣu yuktaṃ parīkṣaṇam ||
毗湿摩说道：“世间多有粗鄙之人外貌似雅，亦有真正雅正之士反被看作粗鄙。性情与表相千差万别；故当细察其人，不可徒凭外观而断。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer appearance can mislead: the uncultured may look refined and the refined may look uncultured. Therefore, dharmic judgment requires careful examination of conduct and inner disposition rather than relying on surface impressions.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma advises the listener to evaluate people thoughtfully, noting that social signals and appearances do not reliably reveal a person’s true nature.