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 ||
尤提希提罗说道：“真正肯倾听的朋友实在罕有；而怀善意、敢说有益之言的朋友也同样罕有。噢，持守法（dharma）者中最卓越者，请为我详尽开示这一切。”
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.