Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
एकशीलाश्ष मित्रत्वं भजन्ते पापकर्मिण: । स नेह सुखमाप्रोति कुत एव परत्र वै
ekaśīlāś ca mitratvaṁ bhajante pāpakarmiṇaḥ | sa neha sukham āpnoti kuta eva paratra vai ||
Dijo Bhishma: Quienes comparten la misma disposición—sobre todo los pecadores—se hacen amigos con facilidad. Pero el hombre que se entrega a la conducta injusta no alcanza la dicha ni siquiera en este mundo; ¿cómo podría alcanzarla entonces en el venidero?
भीष्म उवाच
Companionship follows character: those inclined to sin gravitate toward like-minded friends, and a life rooted in adharma yields no true happiness here—therefore it cannot yield happiness in the hereafter either.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous living, Bhishma warns about the moral consequences of adharma and the reinforcing effect of bad company—sinful alliances deepen wrongdoing and block well-being in both worlds.