Shloka 4

मृत्यु-काल-प्रबोधनम् (Instruction on Mortality, Time, and Truth) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 169

Devanagari script

दुर्लभो हि सुहृच्छोता दुर्लभश्न हितः सुहृत्‌ । एतद्‌ धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ सर्व व्याख्यातुमरहसि

Transliteration

durlabho hi suhṛcchrotā durlabhaś ca hitaḥ suhṛt | etad dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha sarvaṃ vyākhyātum arhasi ||

Translation

உண்மையாகக் கேட்கும் சுஹ்ருத் அரிது; நன்மை தரும் சொல் கூறும் சுஹ்ருத்தும் அரிது. தர்மத்தைத் தாங்குவோரில் சிறந்தவரே! இவை அனைத்தையும் எனக்கு விரிவாக விளக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

दुर्लभःrare, hard to obtain

हिindeed, for

सुहृत्a friend, well-wisher

श्रोताlistener

दुर्लभःrare, hard to obtain

चand

हितःbeneficial, well-intentioned

सुहृत्friend, well-wisher

एतत्this (matter)

धर्मभृताम्of the upholders of dharma

श्रेष्ठO best (one)

सर्वम्all (of it)

व्याख्यातुम्to explain

अर्हसिyou are able/fit; you should

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.