Shloka 4
य एवात्यन्तसुहृदस्त एन॑ पर्युपासते । अशक्तय: स्वस्तिकामा बद्धवत्सा इडा इव,जो लोग अत्यन्त सुहृद होते हैं, वे ही उस संकटके समय उस राजाके पास रह जाते हैं; परंतु वे भी असमर्थ होनेके कारण बाँधे हुए बछड़ेवाली गायोंकी भाँति कुछ कर नहीं पाते, केवल मन-ही-मन उसकी मंगलकामना करते रहते हैं
ya evātyantasuḥṛdas ta enaṁ paryupāsate | aśaktāḥ svastikāmā baddhavatsā iḍā iva ||
Only those who are truly intimate well-wishers remain close to the king in that time of crisis. Yet, being powerless, they can do nothing—like cows whose calves are tethered; they can only keep wishing for his welfare in their hearts.
पुत्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
True well-wishers do not abandon a person in distress, but goodwill alone is not always sufficient; without capacity or agency, even sincere loyalty may remain only as inward benediction. The verse highlights both the virtue of steadfast friendship and the ethical pain of powerlessness.
In a moment of political danger surrounding a king, most people withdraw, but the closest friends stay near him. However, they are constrained and ineffective—compared to cows unable to move freely because their calves are tied—so they can only continue to hope for the king’s safety and good fortune.