Shloka 6
Chapter 81: Trust, Allies, and the Qualifications of the King’s Artha-Secretary (अर्थसचिव)
चतुर्णा मध्यमौ श्रेष्टी नित्यं शड्क्यौ तथापरौ । सर्वे नित्यं शड्कितव्या: प्रत्यक्ष कार्यमात्मन:
caturṇā madhyamau śreṣṭī nityaṁ śaṅkyau tathāparau | sarve nityaṁ śaṅkitavyāḥ pratyakṣa-kāryam ātmanaḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“四类朋友之中，居中的两类最为上乘：一类是出于自愿而亲附者，一类是天性亲爱者。然而其余两类当常怀戒心。实则当以自身事务之利害为明镜，对一切类型的朋友都应恒常警醒。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when some friends are genuinely good, one should not become careless; practical self-interest and discernment require steady vigilance in all friendships.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma and nīti in the Śānti Parva, he classifies friends into four types, praises the two ‘middle’ kinds as best, yet urges constant caution—especially toward the remaining two—and, in principle, toward all.