धर्मं सहायिनं लब्ध्वा संतरेद्दुस्तरं तमः । संबंधानाचारेन्नित्यमुत्तमैरुत्तमैः सुधीः
dharmaṃ sahāyinaṃ labdhvā saṃtareddustaraṃ tamaḥ | saṃbaṃdhānācārennityamuttamairuttamaiḥ sudhīḥ
ダルマを伴侶として得れば、越え難き闇を渡り切る。賢者は常に、最上の高徳者と交わり、正しい行いを修めるべきである。
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice; traditionally framed within Sūta’s discourse in Purāṇic setting)
Scene: A wise person boards a symbolic boat named 'Dharma' to cross a dark river of Tamas; on the far bank stand noble elders inviting with lamps; the unwise linger in shadowy company.
Dharma and noble company (satsaṅga) enable one to cross the darkness of ignorance and moral decline.
No particular tīrtha is specified; the verse emphasizes the ‘inner tīrtha’ of pure association and conduct.
No fixed ritual is listed; the practice prescribed is continual sadācāra and association with the virtuous.