Shloka 22
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
न विशेषेण गन्तव्यमविच्छिन्नेन वा पुन: । न जातु नाहमस्मीति सुप्रसक्तमसाधुषु
na viśeṣeṇa gantavyam avicchinnena vā punaḥ | na jātu nāham asmīti suprasaktam asādhuṣu ||
Śaunaka berkata: “Janganlah bergaul dengan orang jahat—bukan kerana terpikat oleh suatu kelebihan tertentu pada mereka, dan bukan pula dengan membina hubungan yang berterusan tanpa putus. Jangan sekali-kali menjadi terlalu terikat hingga berfikir, ‘Tanpa mereka aku tidak dapat hidup,’ kerana pergantungan demikian membawa kepada kemerosotan moral.”
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Avoid the company of immoral people in every form: do not be lured by a single attractive trait, do not maintain continuous ties, and do not become emotionally dependent on them. Such attachment undermines dharma and judgment.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Śaunaka voices a moral instruction: a ruler (and by extension anyone) should keep distance from the wicked, because sustained contact and attachment corrupt conduct and policy.