Shloka 55
Daṇḍa-svarūpa-nirūpaṇa
The Nature, Forms, and Function of Daṇḍa
प्रीतिप्रवृत्ती विनिवर्तिती यथा सुहृत्सु विज्ञाय निवृत्य चोभयो: । यदेव मित्र गुरुभारमावहेत् तदेव सुस्निग्धमुदाहरेद् बुध:
prītipravṛttī vinivartitī yathā suhṛtsu vijñāya nivṛtya cobhayoḥ | yadeva mitra gurubhāram āvahet tadeva susnigdham udāhared budhaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：当两位朋友因情义而同起一事，又同退于其事，当细加观察。在这二人之中，若有一人回身之际，能为同伴承担更重的担子——唯此人，方为智者所认定的至亲至信之友，并应在众人前被举为友道之范。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly intimate friend is identified not merely by shared participation in pleasant or mutual undertakings, but by the capacity to shoulder a heavier responsibility for the other when the moment of withdrawal or difficulty comes. Wisdom lies in discerning such steadfastness and holding it up as the standard of friendship.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Bhishma advises how to evaluate friends: observe two companions who begin and end an endeavor together, and then see which one can bear the greater load for the other. That one is to be regarded as the most affectionate and reliable friend.