आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
लोमशको अपना काम बनानेकी जल्दी लगी हुई थी; अतः वह भलीभाँति विनयपूर्ण बर्ताव करता हुआ विलम्ब करनेवाले चूहेसे इस प्रकार कहने लगा-- ।।
na hovaṁ mitrakāryāṇi prītyā kurvanti sādhavaḥ | yathā tvāṁ mokṣitaḥ kṛcchrāt tvaramāṇena vai mayā ||
Bhīṣma dijo: «Los hombres virtuosos no cumplen la tarea de un amigo de este modo, sin afecto ni alegría. Yo, con presteza, te libré al instante de la aflicción; no demores tú cuando llegue el momento de obrar por un amigo.»
भीष्म उवाच
A friend’s duty should be done promptly and with genuine goodwill; virtue is shown not merely by doing the act, but by doing it gladly, without delay, and in a spirit of affectionate reciprocity.
The speaker contrasts proper conduct with procrastination: having quickly freed the other from danger, he rebukes the one who is delaying and urges him to act for a friend with the same urgency and warmth.