Whom to Befriend and Whom to Shun

Verse 1 (12.166.1)

पितामह महाप्राज्ञ कुरूणां प्रीतिवर्धन । प्रश्नं कंचित्प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

pitāmaha mahāprājña kurūṇāṃ prītivardhana | praśnaṃ kaṃcitpravakṣyāmi tanme vyākhyātumarhasi

Grandfather, you who are so wise and who increase the joy of the Kurus, there is a question I wish to put to you, and you should explain it to me.

Note on the text: Line 1 reads प्रीतिवर्धन for the CE's kīrtivardhana; kept as a variant.

Verse 2 (12.166.2)

कीदृशा मानवाः सेव्याः कैः प्रीतिः परमा भवेत् । आयत्यां च तदात्वे च के क्षमास्तान्वदस्व मे ॥

kīdṛśā mānavāḥ sevyāḥ kaiḥ prītiḥ paramā bhavet | āyatyāṃ ca tadātve ca ke kṣamāstānvadasva me

What kind of men should one resort to, and with whom can the deepest affection be formed? Who are the ones fit to serve us, both for the future and for the present? Tell me this.

Note on the text: Corrected कै प्रीति → कैः प्रीतिः (misprint in Wikisource; both visargas dropped; the CE reads kaiḥ prītiḥ). Line 1 reads सेव्याः for the CE's saumyāḥ; kept as a variant.

Verse 3 (12.166.3)

न हि तत्र धनं स्फीतं न च संबन्धिबान्धवाः । तिष्ठन्ति यत्र सुहृदस्तिष्ठन्तीति मतिर्मम ॥

na hi tatra dhanaṃ sphītaṃ na ca saṃbandhibāndhavāḥ | tiṣṭhanti yatra suhṛdastiṣṭhantīti matirmama

For I hold that where friends stand by a man, neither abundant wealth nor in-laws and kinsmen can stand by him in the same way.

Verse 4 (12.166.4)

दुर्लभो हि सुहृच्छ्रोता दुर्लभश्च हितः सुहृत् । एतद्धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ सर्वं व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

durlabho hi suhṛcchrotā durlabhaśca hitaḥ suhṛt | etaddharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha sarvaṃ vyākhyātumarhasi

A friend who will listen is hard to find, and a friend who truly wishes one well is hard to find. Best of those who uphold dharma, you should explain all of this to me.

Verse 5 (12.166.5)

सन्धेयान्पुरुषान्राजन्नसन्धेयांश्च तत्त्वतः । वदतो मे निबोध त्वं निखिलेन युधिष्ठिर ॥

sandheyānpuruṣānrājannasandheyāṃśca tattvataḥ | vadato me nibodha tvaṃ nikhilena yudhiṣṭhira

O king, I shall tell you truly who may be made allies and who may not. Listen to me, Yudhishthira, as I set it out in full.

Verse 6 (12.166.6)

लुब्धः क्रूरस्त्यक्तधर्मा निकृतिः शठ एव च । क्षुद्रः पापसमाचारः सर्वशङ्की तथाऽलसः ॥

lubdhaḥ krūrastyaktadharmā nikṛtiḥ śaṭha eva ca | kṣudraḥ pāpasamācāraḥ sarvaśaṅkī tathā'lasaḥ

The greedy, the cruel, one who has abandoned dharma, the deceitful, the cunning, the petty, one whose conduct is sinful, one who suspects everyone, and the idle;

Verse 7 (12.166.7)

दीर्घसूत्रोऽनृजुः क्रुष्टो गुरुदारप्रधर्षकः । व्यसने यः परित्यागी दुरात्मा निरपत्रपः ॥

dīrghasūtro'nṛjuḥ kruṣṭo gurudārapradharṣakaḥ | vyasane yaḥ parityāgī durātmā nirapatrapaḥ

the procrastinator, the crooked, one reviled by the world, one who dishonours his teacher's wife, one who deserts a friend in misfortune, the evil-souled, the shameless;

Note on the text: Corrected प्रधर्पकः → प्रधर्षकः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads pradharṣakaḥ). Line 1 reads क्रुष्टः for the CE's kaṣṭaḥ; kept as a variant (the page's note glosses क्रुष्टः as 'reviled by the world').

Verse 8 (12.166.8)

सर्वतः पापदर्शी च नास्तिको वेदनिन्दकः । संप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियो लोके यः कालनिरतश्चरेत् ॥

sarvataḥ pāpadarśī ca nāstiko vedanindakaḥ | saṃprakīrṇendriyo loke yaḥ kālanirataścaret

one who sees sin everywhere, the unbeliever, the reviler of the Veda, one whose senses range loose in the world, and one who goes about living only for the passing moment;

Note on the text: Corrected संप्रकीर्णेन्दियो → संप्रकीर्णेन्द्रियो (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, द्र for द; the CE reads saṃprakīrṇendriyo). Line 2 reads कालनिरतः for the CE's kāmanirataḥ; kept as a variant.

Verse 9 (12.166.9)

असभ्यो लोकविद्विष्टः समये चानवस्थितः । पिशुनोऽथाकृतप्रज्ञो मत्सरी पापनिश्चयः ॥

asabhyo lokavidviṣṭaḥ samaye cānavasthitaḥ | piśuno'thākṛtaprajño matsarī pāpaniścayaḥ

the ill-bred, one hated by the world, one who does not keep to agreements, the slanderer, the unlearned, the envious, one who is set on sin;

Note on the text: Line 1 reads असभ्यः for the CE's asatyaḥ; kept as a variant.

Verse 10 (12.166.10)

दुःशीलोऽथाकृतात्मा च नृशंसः कितवस्तथा । मित्रैरपकृतिर्नित्यमटतेऽर्थं धनेप्सया ॥

duḥśīlo'thākṛtātmā ca nṛśaṃsaḥ kitavastathā | mitrairapakṛtirnityamaṭate'rthaṃ dhanepsayā

the ill-behaved, one whose self is untrained, the cruel, the gambler and cheat; one who is always harming his friends and wanders in search of gain, longing for wealth;

Note on the text: Line 2 is a variant of CE 12.162.10c (mitrair arthakṛtī nityam icchaty arthaparaś ca yaḥ).

Verse 11 (12.166.11)

ददतश्च यथाशक्ति यो न तुष्यति मन्दधीः । अधैर्यमपि यो युङ्क्ते सदा मित्रं नराधमः ॥

dadataśca yathāśakti yo na tuṣyati mandadhīḥ | adhairyamapi yo yuṅkte sadā mitraṃ narādhamaḥ

the dull-witted man who is never content with what others give according to their means, and the lowest of men who always shows unsteadiness toward his friend;

Note on the text: Both lines are variants of CE 12.162.11 (vahataś ca yathāśakti … amitram iva yo bhuṅkte sadā mitraṃ nararṣabha).

Verse 12 (12.166.12)

अस्थानक्रोधनो यश्च अकस्माच्च विरज्यते । सुहृदश्चैव कल्याणानाशु त्यजति किल्बिषी ॥

asthānakrodhano yaśca akasmācca virajyate | suhṛdaścaiva kalyāṇānāśu tyajati kilbiṣī

one who flares up where there is no cause for anger, who turns against others suddenly, and the sinner who quickly abandons well-wishing friends;

Note on the text: Corrected किल्बिपी → किल्बिषी (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads kilbiṣī).

Verse 13 (12.166.13)

अल्पेऽप्यपकृते मूढे न संस्मरति यत्कृतम् । कार्यसेवी च मित्रेषु मित्रद्वेषी नराधिप ॥

alpe'pyapakṛte mūḍhe na saṃsmarati yatkṛtam | kāryasevī ca mitreṣu mitradveṣī narādhipa

the fool who, at even a small slight, forgets all that was done for him; one who serves his friends only when it suits his own purpose; one who hates his friends, O ruler of men;

Note on the text: Corrected संस्मरनि → संस्मरति (misprint in Wikisource; broken verb ending; the sense is 'does not remember'). Line 1 differs from CE 12.162.13a (alpe 'py apakṛte mūḍhas tathājñānāt kṛte 'pi ca); kept as a variant.

Verse 14 (12.166.14)

शत्रुर्मित्रमुखो यश्च जिह्मप्रेक्षी विलोचनः । न तुष्यति च कल्याणे यस्त्यजेत्तादृशं नरम् ॥

śatrurmitramukho yaśca jihmaprekṣī vilocanaḥ | na tuṣyati ca kalyāṇe yastyajettādṛśaṃ naram

the enemy who wears a friend's face, who looks askance with a crooked, perverse gaze, and takes no joy in another's good fortune: such a man one should abandon.

Note on the text: Corrected जिह्नप्रेक्षी → जिह्मप्रेक्षी (misprint in Wikisource; न for म; the CE reads jihmaprekṣī). Corrected यम्त्यजेत् → यस्त्यजेत् (misprint in Wikisource; म् for स्; the CE reads yas tyajet). Line 1 ends विलोचनः where the CE reads vilobhanaḥ, and line 2 has तुष्यति for the CE's rajyati; kept as variants.

Verse 15 (12.166.15)

पानपो द्वेषणः क्रोधी निर्घृणः परुषस्तथा । परोपतापी मित्रध्रुक् तथा प्राणिवधे रतः ॥

pānapo dveṣaṇaḥ krodhī nirghṛṇaḥ paruṣastathā | paropatāpī mitradhruk tathā prāṇivadhe rataḥ

the drunkard, the hateful, the irascible, the pitiless, the harsh, one who torments others, one who betrays friends, and one who delights in killing living things;

Note on the text: Corrected परुपस्तथा → परुषस्तथा (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads paruṣas tathā).

Verse 16 (12.166.16)

कृतघ्नश्चाधमो लोके न सन्धेयः कथंचन । मित्रद्वेषी ह्यसंधेयः सन्धेयानपि मे शृणु ॥

kṛtaghnaścādhamo loke na sandheyaḥ kathaṃcana | mitradveṣī hyasaṃdheyaḥ sandheyānapi me śṛṇu

The ungrateful man is the lowest in the world and can never be made a friend. One who hates his friends cannot be allied with. Now hear also about those who can.

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from CE 12.162.16c (chidrānveṣī na saṃdheyaḥ …); the page's note records छिद्रान्वेषी ह्यसन्धेयम् as a manuscript variant.

Verse 17 (12.166.17)

कुलीना वाक्यसंपन्ना ज्ञानविज्ञानकोविदाः । रूपवन्तो गुणोपेतास्तथाऽलुब्धा जितश्रमाः ॥

kulīnā vākyasaṃpannā jñānavijñānakovidāḥ | rūpavanto guṇopetāstathā'lubdhā jitaśramāḥ

Men of good family, skilled in speech, learned in knowledge and discernment, handsome, endowed with merit, free from greed, and untiring;

Note on the text: Page order differs from the CE. Line 1 = CE 12.162.17a; line 2 = CE 12.162.19a.

Verse 18 (12.166.18)

सन्मित्राश्च कृतज्ञाश्च सर्वज्ञा लोभवर्जिताः । माधुर्यगुणसंपन्नाः सत्यसन्धा जितेन्द्रियाः ॥

sanmitrāśca kṛtajñāśca sarvajñā lobhavarjitāḥ | mādhuryaguṇasaṃpannāḥ satyasandhā jitendriyāḥ

good friends, grateful, understanding all things, free from avarice, rich in sweetness of speech, true to their word, masters of their senses;

Note on the text: Page order differs from the CE. Line 1 is a variant of CE 12.162.17c (mitrajñāś ca kṛtajñāś ca sarvajñāḥ śokavarjitāḥ); line 2 = CE 12.162.18a.

Verse 19 (12.166.19)

व्यायामशीलाः सततं भृत्यपुत्राः कुलोद्वहाः । दोषैः प्रमुक्ताः प्रथितास्ते ग्राह्याः पार्थिवैर्नराः ॥

vyāyāmaśīlāḥ satataṃ bhṛtyaputrāḥ kulodvahāḥ | doṣaiḥ pramuktāḥ prathitāste grāhyāḥ pārthivairnarāḥ

always diligent in their exertions, with servants and sons to maintain, upholders of their families, free from faults and well known: such men kings should take to themselves.

Note on the text: Page order differs from the CE. Line 1 = CE 12.162.18c; line 2 is a variant of CE 12.162.19c (doṣair viyuktāḥ prathitais te grāhyāḥ pārthivena ha).

Verse 20 (12.166.20)

यथाशक्ति समाचाराः संप्रतुष्यन्ति हि प्रभो । नास्थाने क्रोधवन्तश्च न चाकस्माद्विरागिणः ॥

yathāśakti samācārāḥ saṃpratuṣyanti hi prabho | nāsthāne krodhavantaśca na cākasmādvirāgiṇaḥ

They act according to their means and are content, O lord; they do not rage where there is no cause, nor turn away without reason.

Verse 21 (12.166.21)

विरक्ताश्च न दुष्यन्ति मनसाऽप्यर्थकोविदाः । आत्मानं पीडयित्वाऽपि सुहृत्कार्यपरायणाः । विरज्यन्ति न मित्रेभ्यो वासो रक्तमिवाविकम् ॥

viraktāśca na duṣyanti manasā'pyarthakovidāḥ | ātmānaṃ pīḍayitvā'pi suhṛtkāryaparāyaṇāḥ | virajyanti na mitrebhyo vāso raktamivāvikam

Even when displeased they do not turn hostile, even in thought, for they are shrewd in their affairs. Though it costs them pain, they stay devoted to their friends' work, and they do not turn from their friends, as a woollen cloth does not lose its dye.

Verse 22 (12.166.22)

दोषांश्च लोभमोहादीनर्थेषु युवतीषु च । न दर्शयन्ति सुहृदो विश्वस्ता बन्धुवत्सलाः ॥

doṣāṃśca lobhamohādīnartheṣu yuvatīṣu ca | na darśayanti suhṛdo viśvastā bandhuvatsalāḥ

Trusted, and affectionate toward their kin, such friends do not show faults like greed and infatuation in matters of wealth or with young women.

Note on the text: Corrected युवतीपु → युवतीषु (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads yuvatiṣv).

Verse 23 (12.166.23)

लोष्टकाञ्चनतुल्यार्थाः सुहृत्सु दृढबुद्धयः । ये चरन्त्यनभीमाना निसृष्टार्थविभूषणाः । संगृह्णन्तः परिजनं स्वाम्यर्थपरमाः सदा ॥

loṣṭakāñcanatulyārthāḥ suhṛtsu dṛḍhabuddhayaḥ | ye carantyanabhīmānā nisṛṣṭārthavibhūṣaṇāḥ | saṃgṛhṇantaḥ parijanaṃ svāmyarthaparamāḥ sadā

To whom a clod and gold are the same as wealth, who are firm of mind toward their friends and move about without conceit, freely giving away their riches and ornaments, who keep their household together and are always chiefly devoted to their master's interest:

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 166-23a/b/c) and in the CE (12.162.23a, c, e). Line 1 reads दृढबुद्धयः where the CE has aśaṭhabuddhayaḥ; kept as a variant.

Verse 24 (12.166.24)

ईदृशैः पुरुषश्रेष्ठैर्यः सन्धिं कुरुते नृपः । तस्य विस्तीर्यते राज्यं ज्योत्स्ना ग्रहपतेरिव ॥

īdṛśaiḥ puruṣaśreṣṭhairyaḥ sandhiṃ kurute nṛpaḥ | tasya vistīryate rājyaṃ jyotsnā grahapateriva

The king who makes an alliance with such best of men sees his kingdom spread like the moonlight of the lord of the stars.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads राज्यम् for the CE's rāṣṭram; kept as a variant.

Verse 25 (12.166.25)

सत्ववन्तो जितक्रोधा बलवन्तो रणे सदा । जन्मशीलगुणोपेताः सन्धेयाः पुरुषोत्तमाः ॥

satvavanto jitakrodhā balavanto raṇe sadā | janmaśīlaguṇopetāḥ sandheyāḥ puruṣottamāḥ

Men of inner strength who have conquered anger, always mighty in battle, endowed with good birth, character and merit, are the best of men and fit to be allied with.

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from CE 12.162.25a (śāstranityā jitakrodhā balavanto raṇapriyāḥ) and line 2 from 25c; kept as variants. The CE's star passage 12.162.25d*0432_01-03 is not on the page.

Verse 26 (12.166.26)

ये च दोषसमायुक्ता नराः प्रोक्ता मयाऽनघ । तेषामप्यधमा राजन्कृतघ्ना मित्रघातकाः । त्यक्तव्यास्तु दुराचाराः सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः ॥

ye ca doṣasamāyuktā narāḥ proktā mayā'nagha | teṣāmapyadhamā rājankṛtaghnā mitraghātakāḥ | tyaktavyāstu durācārāḥ sarveṣāmiti niścayaḥ

Of those men I have named, burdened with faults, sinless one, the lowest, O king, are the ungrateful and the killers of friends. Such evildoers are to be abandoned by everyone: that is the settled rule.

Note on the text: Corrected दोपसमायुक्ता → दोषसमायुक्ता (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads doṣasamāyuktā). Corrected मयाऽन → मयाऽनघ (misprint in Wikisource; final syllable घ dropped; the CE reads mayānagha). Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 166-26a/b/c) and in the CE (12.162.26a, c, e); lines 2-3 read कृतघ्ना मित्रघातकाः / त्यक्तव्यास्तु दुराचाराः (plural) against the CE's singular forms; kept as a variant.