धर्मं सहायिनं लब्ध्वा संतरेद्दुस्तरं तमः । संबंधानाचारेन्नित्यमुत्तमैरुत्तमैः सुधीः
dharmaṃ sahāyinaṃ labdhvā saṃtareddustaraṃ tamaḥ | saṃbaṃdhānācārennityamuttamairuttamaiḥ sudhīḥ
Được Dharma làm bạn đồng hành, người ta vượt qua bóng tối khó vượt. Bậc trí nên luôn kết giao và giữ chánh hạnh với những bậc cao quý nhất trong hàng thiện nhân.
Unspecified (Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa narrative voice; traditionally framed within Sūta’s discourse in Purāṇic setting)
Scene: A wise person boards a symbolic boat named 'Dharma' to cross a dark river of Tamas; on the far bank stand noble elders inviting with lamps; the unwise linger in shadowy company.
Dharma and noble company (satsaṅga) enable one to cross the darkness of ignorance and moral decline.
No particular tīrtha is specified; the verse emphasizes the ‘inner tīrtha’ of pure association and conduct.
No fixed ritual is listed; the practice prescribed is continual sadācāra and association with the virtuous.