बुद्धिश्च ह्रीयते पुंसां नीचैः सह समागमात्।
मध्यमैर्मध्यतां याति श्रेष्ठतां याति चोत्तमैः॥
इन्धिश्चे स्प्रुचे ४४७३ १९७९ महाभारते
buddhiśca hrīyate puṁsāṁ nīcaiḥ saha smāgamāt|
madhyamairmadhyatāṁ yāti śreṣṭhatāṁ yāti cottamaiḥ||
indhiśce spruce 4473 1979 mahābhārate
The mind, intellect, capacity to think and even the process of thinking and the attitude of human beings sink to abysmally low levels when they are in constant companion with people of low and inferior mind, attitude and are of mean behaviour.
When people are in contact or association with mediocre gents, they too manage to get pegged to similar level of mediocrity.
And when people are in constant contact and devoted association with great souls, they too attain the same exalted levels of greatness sooner of later.
Yes, we become what we seek and get associated with.
analysis
पुंसां of human beings बुद्धिः intellect, mind, thinking capacity, attitude नीचैः सह with lowly people समागमात् as a result of association with ह्रीयते become sunken, become rotten सा बुद्धिः that same mind मध्यमैः सह with mediocre people समागमात् when is in association with मध्यतां याति. Reaches the level of mediocrity सा च that intellect उत्तमैः सह with great souls, with men of class समागमात् when associated श्रेष्ठतां याति reaches highest levels of exaltation.