Shloka 4
Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda: Aśuddha-Sevana, Guṇa-Dr̥ṣṭi, and Sāṃkhya–Yoga Ekārthatā
Mahābhārata 12.293
धर्मपर दृष्टि रखनेवाले सत्पुरुषोंके संसर्गमें रहना सदा ही श्रेष्ठ है; परंतु किसी भी दशामें कभी दुष्ट पुरुषोंका संग अच्छा नहीं है, यह मेरा दृढ़ निश्चय है ।।
dharmaparāṃ dṛṣṭiṃ rakṣaṇavāle satpuruṣoṃ ke saṃsargam̐ meṃ rahanā sadā hī śreṣṭha hai; parantu kisī bhī daśā meṃ kabhī duṣṭa-puruṣoṃ kā saṅga acchā nahīṃ hai—yah merā dṛḍha niścaya hai. yathodayagiri-dravyaṃ saṃnikarṣeṇa dīpyate | tathā sat-saṃnikarṣeṇa hīna-varṇo 'pi dīpyate ||
Parāśara said: To dwell in the company of the good—those whose vision is set on dharma—is always the best course. But in no condition is the companionship of the wicked ever beneficial; this is my firm conviction. Just as every substance on the eastern mountain gleams when it comes near the sun, so too, by close association with the virtuous, even a person of low standing comes to shine with good qualities.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
One’s character is shaped by association: keeping company with the virtuous elevates even the lowly, while association with the wicked is never beneficial.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, the sage Parāśara advises the listener using a vivid simile: as objects on the sunrise mountain glow near the sun, people gain virtue by staying close to the good.