Shloka 16
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
यस्तु वृद्धया न तृप्येत क्षये दीनतरो भवेत् । एतदुत्तममित्रस्य निमित्तमिति चक्षते
yas tu vṛddhyā na tṛpyet kṣaye dīnataraḥ bhavet | etad uttamam itrasya nimittam iti cakṣate ||
ビーシュマは言った。友が栄えてもなお満足せず、さらに高き昇進を願い続け、衰えが来ればひどく沈み込む者——これこそ、人々が「最上の友」と呼ぶ者を見分ける決定の徴である。すなわち、その心が深く相手の安寧に結びついているからである。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly excellent friend is identified by wholehearted concern for the other’s welfare: he is not complacent at the friend’s success, but wishes ever greater good, and he feels genuine sorrow when the friend faces decline.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma is giving Yudhishthira ethical counsel, here defining a key ‘mark’ (nimitta) by which an outstanding friend may be recognized.