Shloka 46
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
श्रेष्ठो हि पण्डित: शत्रुर्न च मित्रमपण्डित:
śreṣṭho hi paṇḍitaḥ śatrur na ca mitram apaṇḍitaḥ
毗湿摩说道：“智者为敌，尚胜愚人作友。”此言意在申明：为自身福祉，可靠的乃是明断与辨识，而非缺乏理解的情爱；因为愚昧——纵披友谊之衣——亦能引人入害，堕于非正法（adharma）。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Discernment matters more than labels like ‘friend’ or ‘enemy’: a wise adversary may act predictably and within reason, while a foolish friend can cause unintended damage through poor judgment, leading one away from dharma and well-being.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous conduct and practical ethics after the war. This verse appears as a concise maxim within that counsel, emphasizing the value of wisdom in relationships and decision-making.