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 ||
The sages said: “Even once, one should earnestly seek the company of the good; from that point onward, only what is auspicious will follow. A noble person should never disregard association with the virtuous. Therefore, one must desire and pursue the fellowship of the righteous.”
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.