Shanti Parva 80.17
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Shanti Parva Chapter 80 · Verse 17
Sanskrit Original
यन्मन्येत ममाभावादस्याभावो भवेदिति। तस्मिन् कुर्वीत विश्वासं यथा पितरि वै तथा॥ तं शक्त्या वर्धमानश्च सर्वतः परिबृंहयेत्। नित्यं क्षताद् वारयति यो धर्मेष्वपि कर्मसु॥ क्षताद् भीतं विजानीयादुत्तमं मित्रलक्षणम्। ये तस्य क्षतमिच्छन्ति ते तस्य रिपवः स्मृताः॥
He who would meet with ruin by your fall, should be trusted by you completely even as you should trust your father. You should, to the best of your power, advance him as you secure advancement for yourself. One who, in even your religious rites, tries to save you from harm, would try to save you from harm in every other transaction. Such a one should be known as your best friend. They, on the other hand, who wish one harm are one's enemies.