Shikshasamuccaya 164

164

tatr dharma-bhāṇaka-sevā-ādinā kalyāṇa-mitra-an-utsarga uktaḥ | kalyāṇa-mitra-lakṣaṇaṃ ca | tad etena sad-dharma-parigraheṇa vinā | na rakṣā | na śuddhir na vṛddhis [doubtful] tataś ca so * api na bodhi-satva ity a-vaśya-kāryaḥ sad-dharma-parigrahaḥ ||

There, through the service of the preacher of the Dharma and so forth, the non-abandonment of the virtuous friend is stated, as well as the characteristic of the virtuous friend. Thus, without this embrace of the true Dharma, there is no protection, no purification, and no growth; and consequently he is not even a bodhisattva. Therefore, the embrace of the true Dharma must necessarily be practiced.