Shloka 128
कृत्वा हि पूर्व मित्राणि यः पश्चान्नानुतिष्ठति । न स मित्राणि लभते कृच्छास्वापत्सु दुर्मति:,“जो खोटी बुद्धिवाला मनुष्य पहले बहुत-से मित्र बनाकर पीछे उस मित्रभावमें स्थिर नहीं रहता है, वह कष्टदायिनी विपत्तिमें पड़नेपर उन मित्रोंको नहीं पाता है अर्थात् उनसे उसको सहायता नहीं मिलती
kṛtvā hi pūrva mitrāṇi yaḥ paścān nānutiṣṭhati | na sa mitrāṇi labhate kṛcchrāsv āpatsu durmatiḥ ||
Bhishma said: A man who first makes many friends but later does not remain steadfast in that friendship does not obtain those friends when harsh calamities arise; in times of distress, the foolish find no help from the very bonds they neglected to uphold.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Friendship is a dharmic commitment that must be sustained by consistent conduct; those who form alliances but fail to uphold them lose support precisely when hardship and crisis arrive.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he offers a moral maxim about social bonds: neglecting the duties of friendship after initially cultivating many friends results in isolation during calamity.