मित्रस्नेहस्य पर्यायस्तच्च साप्तपदं स्मृतम् । स्नेहः स कीदृशो मित्रे दुःखितो यो न दृश्यते
mitrasnehasya paryāyastacca sāptapadaṃ smṛtam | snehaḥ sa kīdṛśo mitre duḥkhito yo na dṛśyate
Padanan bagi kasih seorang sahabat disebut ‘sāptapada’, yakni melangkah tujuh langkah bersama. Namun kasih apakah itu, bila sahabat tidak tampak mendampingi ketika temannya dilanda duka?
Mārkaṇḍeya (contextual, inferred)
Scene: Two companions on a path: the teaching points to ‘seven steps together’ as the emblem of friendship; one friend is shown distressed, the other arriving/standing close, offering steady support.
True friendship is proved by presence and support in adversity, not by words alone.
No site is mentioned; the verse teaches mitra-dharma within the narrative context.
None; ‘sāptapada’ is referenced as a cultural marker of committed companionship rather than a ritual instruction here.