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 berkata: Bila dua sahabat, karena kasih, bersama-sama memulai suatu tugas dan bersama-sama pula menarik diri darinya, hendaklah orang mengamati mereka dengan saksama. Dari keduanya, sahabat yang kembali dan sanggup memikul beban yang lebih berat demi kawannya—dialah, menurut orang bijak, sahabat yang sungguh intim dan setia, layak dijadikan teladan persahabatan.
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.