Shloka 9
Vāraṇāvata-prasaṃsā and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure (वरणावत-प्रशंसा तथा पाण्डव-प्रयाणम्)
न दरिद्रो वसुमतो नाविद्वान् विदुष: सखा । न शूरस्य सखा क्लीब: सखिपूर्व किमिष्यते,सच्ची बात यह है कि दरिद्र मनुष्य धनवानका, मूर्ख विद्वान्का और कायर शूरवीरका सखा नहीं हो सकता; अतः पहलेकी मित्रताका क्या भरोसा करते हो
na daridro vasumato nāvidvān viduṣaḥ sakhā | na śūrasya sakhā klībaḥ sakhipūrvaṃ kim iṣyate ||
Hupada said: “A poor man cannot truly be the companion of a wealthy man; an ignorant man cannot be the companion of a learned man; and a coward cannot be the companion of a hero. Therefore, what reliance can be placed on a friendship that existed only in the past?”
हुपद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a pragmatic ethic of friendship: companionship tends to endure when there is some parity in virtue, learning, courage, and social standing; otherwise, old ties alone are an unreliable basis for present trust.
Hupada is offering counsel that cautions against depending on a past friendship, arguing that differences in wealth, knowledge, and bravery prevent stable companionship in the present situation.