Shloka 23
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
ऋषय ऊचु: सकृत् सतां संगतं लिप्सितव्यं ततः परं भविता भव्यमेव । नातिक्रामेत् सत्पुरुषेण संगतं तस्मात् सतां संगतं लिप्सितव्यम्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ: sakṛt satāṃ saṅgataṃ lipsitavyaṃ tataḥ paraṃ bhavitā bhavyam eva | nātikrāmet satpuruṣeṇa saṅgataṃ tasmāt satāṃ saṅgataṃ lipsitavyam ||
Die Weisen sprachen: „Auch nur ein einziges Mal soll man ernstlich die Gemeinschaft der Guten suchen; von da an wird nur Heilvolles folgen. Ein edler Mensch darf die Verbindung mit Tugendhaften niemals gering achten. Darum muss man die Gefährtenschaft der Gerechten begehren und erstreben.“
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the transformative power of satsanga—seeking and honoring the company of virtuous people. Even a single genuine association with the good is said to set one on a path where auspicious outcomes follow, so one should never slight or neglect such company.
Within the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled setting, a didactic statement is presented as the utterance of sages, emphasizing ethical guidance: do not disregard the fellowship of the righteous, but actively seek it as a means to welfare and moral steadiness.