मित्रस्नेहस्य पर्यायस्तच्च साप्तपदं स्मृतम् । स्नेहः स कीदृशो मित्रे दुःखितो यो न दृश्यते
mitrasnehasya paryāyastacca sāptapadaṃ smṛtam | snehaḥ sa kīdṛśo mitre duḥkhito yo na dṛśyate
El afecto del amigo se tiene por sinónimo de “sāptapada”, los siete pasos dados juntos. ¿Qué clase de afecto es, si cuando el amigo está afligido no se le ve, no se le sostiene a su lado?
Mārkaṇḍeya (contextual, inferred)
Scene: Two companions on a path: the teaching points to ‘seven steps together’ as the emblem of friendship; one friend is shown distressed, the other arriving/standing close, offering steady support.
True friendship is proved by presence and support in adversity, not by words alone.
No site is mentioned; the verse teaches mitra-dharma within the narrative context.
None; ‘sāptapada’ is referenced as a cultural marker of committed companionship rather than a ritual instruction here.