Shloka 4
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
दुर्लभो हि सुहृच्छोता दुर्लभश्न हितः सुहृत् । एतद् धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ सर्व व्याख्यातुमरहसि
durlabho hi suhṛcchrotā durlabhaś ca hitaḥ suhṛt | etad dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha sarvaṃ vyākhyātum arhasi ||
Yudhishthira disse: “Raro, de fato, é o amigo que sabe ouvir; e raro também é o amigo bem-intencionado que diz o que é benéfico. Ó o melhor entre os sustentadores do dharma, és digno de me explicar tudo isso por inteiro.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that genuine friendship is rare in two complementary forms: a friend who listens with understanding and a friend who offers beneficial, dharma-aligned counsel. It also models humility—seeking full clarification from a recognized authority in dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a revered teacher of dharma, acknowledging the rarity of true counsel and requesting a complete explanation of the ethical point under discussion.