Shloka 7
सुह्ृदां हि धनं भुक्त्वा कृत्वा प्रणयमीप्सितम् । प्रतिकर्तुमशक्तस्य जीवितान्मरणं वरम्,“जो इच्छानुसार प्रेम-सम्बन्ध स्थापित करके सुहृदोंका धन भोगकर उनका प्रत्युपकार करनेमें असमर्थ हो, उसके जीनेसे मर जाना ही अच्छा है
suhṛdāṁ hi dhanaṁ bhuktvā kṛtvā praṇayam īpsitam | pratikartum aśaktasya jīvitān maraṇaṁ varam ||
جو شخص مطلوبہ محبت کا رشتہ قائم کرکے اپنے خیرخواہوں کے مال سے فائدہ اٹھائے اور پھر ان کی مہربانی کا بدلہ دینے سے عاجز رہے، اس کے لیے ایسی زندگی سے موت بہتر ہے۔
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not exploit the resources of well-wishers after cultivating intimacy; ethical living requires gratitude and the capacity to repay kindness. If one cannot requite benefactors, such a life is portrayed as shameful—so shameful that death is said to be preferable.
In Udyoga Parva, Nārada delivers a pointed moral observation about obligations created by friendship and benefaction, emphasizing the dharmic duty to return help received rather than living on others’ wealth without reciprocation.