Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 152
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
अर्थार्थी जीवलोको<यं न कश्रित् कस्यचित् प्रिय: । सख्यं सोदर्ययोर्भ्रन्रोर्दम्पत्योर्वां परस्परम्
arthārthī jīvaloko 'yaṁ na kaścit kasyacit priyaḥ | sakhyaṁ sodaryayor bhrātroḥ dampatyor vāṁ parasparam ||
毗湿摩说道：“此众生世间为私利所驱；若无所图，无人真为他人所爱。即便同母兄弟之交，或夫妻相爱，也往往建立在彼此得益之上。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma highlights a hard ethical realism: worldly relationships often become transactional, sustained by perceived benefit. The implied counsel is to recognize this tendency, restrain selfishness, and ground conduct in dharma rather than mere advantage.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and statecraft after the war. Here he underscores the prevalence of self-interest in society, even within intimate bonds like siblinghood and marriage, as part of his broader moral and political instruction.