Sacred Concord

Mbh 1.34.2

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

‘Sauti continued, ‘Garuda then said, ‘O Purandara, let there be friendship between thee and me as thou desirest. My strength, know thou, is hard to bear. O thou of a thousand sacrifices, the good never approve of speaking highly of their own strength, nor do they speak of their own merits. But being made a friend, and asked by thee, O friend, I will answer thee, although self-praise without reason is ever improper. I can bear, on a single feather of mine, O Sakra, this Earth, with her mountains and forests and with the waters of the ocean, and with thee also stationed thereon. Know thou, my strength is such that I can bear without fatigue even all the worlds put together, with their mobile and immobile objects.’
Mbh 1.34.2 · Mahabharata · ADI PARVA

Themes in this passage

FriendshipNatureStrengthSpeech

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 friend
Quran 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

See what all six traditions say about friendship →

Search every tradition at once

Ask a question in your own words and see how six traditions answer it.