Shloka 64
युधिछिर उवाच सार्थ: प्रवसतो मित्र भार्या मित्र गृहे सतः । आतुरस्य भिषड्मित्र दानं मित्र मरिष्यत:
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | sārthaḥ pravasato mitraṁ bhāryā mitraṁ gṛhe sataḥ | āturasya bhiṣag mitraṁ dānaṁ mitraṁ mariṣyataḥ ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ—ପ୍ରବାସୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସାର୍ଥ ଓ ସହଯାତ୍ରୀମାନେ ମିତ୍ର; ଘରେ ଥିବାଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପତ୍ନୀ ମିତ୍ର; ରୋଗୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବୈଦ୍ୟ ମିତ୍ର; ଏବଂ ମୃତ୍ୟୁସନ୍ନ ମନୁଷ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଦାନ ହିଁ ସତ୍ୟ ମିତ୍ର।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Friendship is defined by practical support suited to one’s condition: companionship for the traveler, partnership for the householder, healing for the sick, and—at life’s end—merit through charity. The verse frames ‘mitra’ as that which sustains a person in their immediate need and in their ultimate transition.
In the Vana Parva’s didactic context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a moral observation about who (or what) truly serves as a ‘friend’ in different life-situations, emphasizing social interdependence and the special salvific value of dāna when death approaches.