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 ||
سچّی بات سننے والا دوست نایاب ہے، اور بھلائی کی بات کہنے والا خیرخواہ دوست بھی نایاب۔ اے اہلِ دھرم میں برتر! یہ سب کچھ مجھے تفصیل سے سمجھائیے۔
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.