Shloka 38
मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169
गौतम: संनिकर्षेण दस्युभि: समतामियात् | तथा तु वसतस्तस्य दस्युग्रामे सुखं तदा
gautamaḥ saṃnikarṣeṇa dasyubhiḥ samatām iyāt | tathā tu vasatas tasya dasyugrāme sukhaṃ tadā ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—கொள்ளையர்களுடன் நெருங்கிய பழக்கத்தால் கௌதமனும் அவர்களைப் போலவே ஆகிவிட்டான். மேலும் அந்தக் கொள்ளையர் கிராமத்தில் வாழ்ந்தபோது, ஒரு காலம் அங்கே அவன் சுகத்தையும் அனுபவித்தான்।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One’s character and conduct are shaped by close association: living near and among unethical people can make even a respected person conform to their ways, and temporary comfort in such company can mask deeper moral harm.
Bhīṣma describes Gautama’s situation: through sustained proximity to bandits, Gautama becomes like them, and while residing in their settlement he enjoys a period of ease—setting up a cautionary point about the subtle effects of environment and companionship.