Shloka 7
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 106: Pūrva-Diśa Praśaṃsā
Praise and Primacy of the Eastern Quarter
सुह्ृदां हि धनं भुक्त्वा कृत्वा प्रणयमीप्सितम् । प्रतिकर्तुमशक्तस्य जीवितान्मरणं वरम्
suhṛdāṁ hi dhanaṁ bhuktvā kṛtvā praṇayam īpsitam | pratikartum aśaktasya jīvitān maraṇaṁ varam ||
जो इच्छानुसार प्रेम-सम्बन्ध स्थापित करके सुहृदों का धन भोगकर भी उनका प्रत्युपकार करने में असमर्थ हो, उसके लिए ऐसे जीवन से मर जाना ही श्रेष्ठ है।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not exploit the resources of well-wishers after cultivating intimacy; ethical living requires gratitude and the capacity to repay kindness. If one cannot requite benefactors, such a life is portrayed as shameful—so shameful that death is said to be preferable.
In Udyoga Parva, Nārada delivers a pointed moral observation about obligations created by friendship and benefaction, emphasizing the dharmic duty to return help received rather than living on others’ wealth without reciprocation.