Shloka 42
Śakaṭa-bhañjana, Naming by Garga, Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna, and the Move to Vṛndāvana
न बबन्धाम्बरे स्थैर्यं विद्युद् अत्यन्तचञ्चला मैत्रीव प्रवरे पुंसि दुर्जनेन प्रयोजिता
na babandhāmbare sthairyaṃ vidyud atyantacañcalā maitrīva pravare puṃsi durjanena prayojitā
Lightning, restless beyond measure, never binds itself to steadiness in the sky; so too the friendship a wicked man offers a noble soul—flickering for a moment, then vanishing without faith or firmness.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya within the Kali-yuga discourse)
Concept: Like lightning that cannot remain steady in the sky, the friendship of the wicked toward the noble is momentary and unreliable.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Choose companions by character and consistency; test trust over time rather than being swayed by sudden displays of affection.
Vishishtadvaita: Ethical discernment (viveka) supports bhakti by protecting the jīva’s Godward orientation from corrupting associations.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
It illustrates a key Kali-yuga symptom: relationships become unstable and self-serving, so discernment becomes essential to preserve dharma and personal integrity.
He uses vivid natural images—here, lightning’s momentary flash—to show how quickly virtue, loyalty, and trust can collapse when driven by bad character.
By highlighting instability and moral decay, the text implicitly points to Vishnu as the enduring refuge and stabilizing Supreme Reality when worldly bonds become unreliable.