Shloka 23
Vṛtra’s Cosmic Threat, Viṣṇu’s Upāya, and the Conditional Vulnerability
Udyoga-parva 10
ऋषय ऊचु: सकृत् सतां संगतं लिप्सितव्यं ततः परं भविता भव्यमेव । नातिक्रामेत् सत्पुरुषेण संगतं तस्मात् सतां संगतं लिप्सितव्यम्,ऋषि बोले--एक बार साधु पुरुषोंकी संगतिकी अभिलाषा अवश्य रखनी चाहिये। साधु पुरुषोंका संग प्राप्त होनेपर उससे परम कल्याण ही होगा। साधु पुरुषोंके संगकी अवहेलना नहीं करनी चाहिये। अत: संतोंका रंग मिलनेकी अवश्य इच्छा करे
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ: sakṛt satāṃ saṅgataṃ lipsitavyaṃ tataḥ paraṃ bhavitā bhavyam eva | nātikrāmet satpuruṣeṇa saṅgataṃ tasmāt satāṃ saṅgataṃ lipsitavyam ||
Para resi berkata: “Sekali saja, seseorang harus sungguh-sungguh mencari pergaulan dengan orang-orang bajik; sejak saat itu, yang datang hanyalah kebaikan. Seorang mulia tak boleh meremehkan kebersamaan dengan yang saleh; karena itu, hendaknya ia merindukan dan menempuh persekutuan dengan orang benar.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the transformative power of satsanga—seeking and honoring the company of virtuous people. Even a single genuine association with the good is said to set one on a path where auspicious outcomes follow, so one should never slight or neglect such company.
Within the Udyoga Parva’s counsel-filled setting, a didactic statement is presented as the utterance of sages, emphasizing ethical guidance: do not disregard the fellowship of the righteous, but actively seek it as a means to welfare and moral steadiness.