Shloka 17
Adhyāya 272: Vṛtrasya Dharmiṣṭhatā, Indrasya Mohaḥ, Vasiṣṭha-upadeśaḥ
Vṛtra’s dharmic stature; Indra’s disorientation; Vasiṣṭha’s counsel
स मित्रधनलाभात् तु प्रेत्य चेह च नन्दति । शब्दे स्पर्शे रसे रूपे तथा गन्धे च भारत
sa mitra-dhana-lābhāt tu pretya ceha ca nandati | śabde sparśe rase rūpe tathā gandhe ca bhārata ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Celui qui acquiert des richesses par ses amis se réjouit ici-bas comme après la mort. Ô Bhārata, il trouve contentement dans les objets des sens—son, toucher, goût, forme et odeur—car sa prospérité est soutenue par une compagnie fidèle plutôt que par un effort solitaire.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that prosperity grounded in friendship and social support brings well-being in both this life and the next; such rightly-sustained wealth enables legitimate enjoyment of life’s ordinary pleasures without inner insecurity.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and practical life. Here he highlights the value of friends and alliances: wealth gained with the help of friends leads to contentment and the capacity to enjoy the five sense-objects.