Shloka 16
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
यस्तु वृद्धया न तृप्येत क्षये दीनतरो भवेत् । एतदुत्तममित्रस्य निमित्तमिति चक्षते
yas tu vṛddhyā na tṛpyet kṣaye dīnataraḥ bhavet | etad uttamam itrasya nimittam iti cakṣate ||
Bhīṣma dit : Celui qui ne se contente pas même lorsque son ami prospère, qui désire toujours une élévation plus grande encore, et qui s’afflige outre mesure quand survient le déclin—voilà, dit-on, le signe déterminant par lequel on reconnaît un «ami d’excellence», tant son cœur est investi dans le bien de l’autre.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly excellent friend is identified by wholehearted concern for the other’s welfare: he is not complacent at the friend’s success, but wishes ever greater good, and he feels genuine sorrow when the friend faces decline.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma is giving Yudhishthira ethical counsel, here defining a key ‘mark’ (nimitta) by which an outstanding friend may be recognized.