"Dhritarashtra said, 'Destitute as I am of sons and counsellors and all my friends, I shall, without doubt have to wander in sorrow over the earth. What need have I now of life itself, left as I am of kinsmen and friends and resembling as I do a bird shorn of its wings and afflicted with decrepitude? Shorn of kingdom, deprived of kinsmen, and destitute of eyes, I cannot, O thou of great wisdom, shine any longer on earth like a luminary shorn of its splendours! I did not follow the counsels of friends of Jamadagni's son, of the celestial rishi Narada, and of island-born Krishna, while they offered me counsel. In the midst of the assembly, Krishna told me what was for my good, saying, "A truce (tense) to hostilities, O king! Let thy son take the whole kingdom! Give but five villages to the Pandavas!" Fool that I was, for not following that advice, I am now obliged to repent so poignantly! I did not listen to the righteous counsels of Bhishma. Alas, having heard of the slaughter of Duryodhana whose roars were as deep as those of a bull, having heard also of the death of Duhshasana and the extinction of Karna and the setting of the Drona-sun, my heart does not break into pieces. I do not, O Sanjaya, remember any evil act committed by me in former days, whose consequences, fool that I am, I am suffering today. Without doubt, I committed great sins in my former lives, for which the Supreme Ordainer has set me to endure such a measure of grief. This destruction of all my kinsmen, this extermination of all my well-wishers and friends, at this old age, has come upon me through the force of Destiny. What other man is there on earth who is more afflicted than my wretched self? Since it is so, let the Pandavas behold me this very day firmly resolved to betake myself to the long way that leads to the regions of Brahman!'"Mbh 11.1.6 · Mahabharata · Stri-parva
Mbh 11.1.6
Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Themes in this passage
FriendshipChildrenNatureSufferingThe DivineDoubtGriefPoverty
Friendship in other traditions
The same theme, as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hellenism address it.
Do not have evil-doers for friends, do not have low people for friends: have virtuous people for friends, have for friends the best of men.Dhp 6.78 · Dhammapada · The Wise Man (Pandita)
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24 · Bible · Proverbs
And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friendQuran 70:10 · Quran
With that, the chiefs beneath his roof he led, And placed in seats with purple carpets spread. Then thus—“Patroclus, crown a larger bowl, Mix purer wine, and open every soul. Of all the warriors yonder host can send, Thy friend most honours these, and these thy friend.”Iliad 9.16 · Iliad · 9
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