Shloka 55
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
प्रीतिप्रवृत्ती विनिवर्तिती यथा सुहृत्सु विज्ञाय निवृत्य चोभयो: । यदेव मित्र गुरुभारमावहेत् तदेव सुस्निग्धमुदाहरेद् बुध:
prītipravṛttī vinivartitī yathā suhṛtsu vijñāya nivṛtya cobhayoḥ | yadeva mitra gurubhāram āvahet tadeva susnigdham udāhared budhaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : Lorsque deux amis, par affection, entreprennent ensemble une tâche et s’en retirent ensemble, il faut les observer avec soin. De ces deux-là, l’ami qui, en revenant sur ses pas, peut porter le fardeau le plus lourd pour son compagnon—lui seul doit être reconnu par les sages comme l’ami véritablement intime et d’une loyauté profonde, et proposé aux autres comme modèle d’amitié.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly intimate friend is identified not merely by shared participation in pleasant or mutual undertakings, but by the capacity to shoulder a heavier responsibility for the other when the moment of withdrawal or difficulty comes. Wisdom lies in discerning such steadfastness and holding it up as the standard of friendship.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma advises how to evaluate friends: observe two companions who begin and end an endeavor together, and then see which one can bear the greater load for the other. That one is to be regarded as the most affectionate and reliable friend.