[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Mahābhārata and its versions](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata) › [The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) › 3.281.22 # The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 3.281.22 Mahābhārata 3.281.22 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [3.281.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.3.281.22) prāhuḥ saptapadaṃ mitraṃ budhāstattvārthadarśinaḥ | mitratāṃ ca puraskṛtya kiṃcidvakṣyāmi tacchṛṇu || 22 || > It hath been declared by wise men endued with true knowledge that by walking only seven paces with another, one contracteth a friendship with one's companion. Keeping that friendship (which I have contracted with thee) in view, I shall speak to thee something. Do thou listen to it. They that have not their souls under control, acquire not merit by leading the four successive modes of life, viz.,--celibacy with study, domesticity, retirement into the woods, and renunciation of the world. That which is called religious merit is said to consist of true knowledge. The wise, therefore, have declared religious merit to be the foremost of all things and not the passage through the four successive modes. By practising the duties of even one of these four modes agreeable to the directions of the wise, we have attained to true merit, and, therefore, we do not desire the second or the third mode, viz., celibacy with study or renunciation. It is for this again that the wise have declared religious merit to be the foremost of all things!' Hearing these words of hers, Yama said, 'Do thou desist! I have been pleased with these words of thine couched in proper letters and accents, and based on reason. Do thou ask for a boon! > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa - [Previous: 3.281.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.3.281.21) - [Next: 3.281.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.3.281.23) - [Up: 3.281](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.3.281) ## Translations (1) - [The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa~en-ganguli.3.295.2.2) — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, English ## Other recensions (2) - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*southern.3.298.24) — Sanskrit - [Vulgate (Nīlakaṇṭha's text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*vulgate.3.297.23) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.3.281.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.3.281.22) · Pramāṇa