Shloka 6
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
चतुर्णा मध्यमौ श्रेष्टी नित्यं शड्क्यौ तथापरौ । सर्वे नित्यं शड्कितव्या: प्रत्यक्ष कार्यमात्मन:,उपर्युक्त चार प्रकारके मित्रोंमेंसे भजमान और सहज--ये बीचवाले दो मित्र श्रेष्ठ समझे जाते हैं, किंतु शेष दो की ओरसे सदा सशडक रहना चाहिये। वास्तवमें तो अपने कार्यको ही दृष्टिमें रखकर सभी प्रकारके मित्रोंसे सदा सतर्क रहना चाहिये
caturṇā madhyamau śreṣṭī nityaṁ śaṅkyau tathāparau | sarve nityaṁ śaṅkitavyāḥ pratyakṣa-kāryam ātmanaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Entre os quatro tipos de amigos, os dois ‘intermediários’ são considerados os melhores: os que se ligam por escolha e os que são naturalmente afetuosos. Contudo, dos outros dois deve-se sempre desconfiar. De fato, mantendo claramente em vista o próprio objetivo prático, deve-se permanecer continuamente vigilante com todo tipo de amigo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when some friends are genuinely good, one should not become careless; practical self-interest and discernment require steady vigilance in all friendships.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and nīti in the Śānti Parva, he classifies friends into four types, praises the two ‘middle’ kinds as best, yet urges constant caution—especially toward the remaining two—and, in principle, toward all.