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  • vyasanaiḥ kliśyamānaṁ hi yo mitraṁ nābhipadyate |
    anunīya yathāśakti taṁ nṛśaṁsaṁ vidur budhāḥ ||
    (Mahābhārata: Udyoga-parva, 91.10)

    “If a friend is in trouble, it is one’s duty to say a few consoling words and help him as much as possible. One who does not do that is considered cruel by wise men.”

    Read on →: vyasanaiḥ kliśyamānaṁ hi yo mitraṁ nābhipadyate

  • karāv iva śarīrasya netrayor iva pakṣmaṇī |
    avicārya priyaṁ kuryāt tan-mitraṁ mitra ucyate ||
    (Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāram)

    “Like the hands of the body and the lids of the eyes, that friend who without deliberation does what is kind is said to be a [real] friend.”

    Read on →: karāv iva śarīrasya netrayor iva pakṣmaṇī

  • āpat-kāle tu samprāpte yan-mitraṁ mitram eva tat |
    vṛddhi-kāle tu samprāpte durjano’pi suhṛd bhavet ||
    (Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha)

    “One who is a friend during times of adversity is a friend indeed. Even wicked people become friendly during times of prosperity.”

    Read on →: āpat-kāle tu samprāpte yan-mitraṁ mitram eva tat

  • āture vyasane prāpte durbhikṣe śatru-saṅkaṭe |
    rājā-dvāre śmaśāne ca yas tiṣṭhati sa bāndhavaḥ ||
    (Cāṇākhya-nīti-darpaṇa: 1.12)

    “One who stays [with you] in illness, in adversity, in famine, while surrounded by enemies, at the gate of the king, and at the crematorium, is a friend.”

    Read on →: āture vyasane prāpte durbhikṣe śatru-saṅkaṭe

  • utsave vyasane yuddhe durbhikṣe rāṣṭra-viplave |
    rāja-dvāre śmaśāne ca yas tiṣṭhati sa bāndhavaḥ ||
    (Hitopadeśa: 4.67)

    “One who stays [with you] in festivals, in adversity, in war, in famine, in revolutions of the state, at the gate of the king, and at the crematorium, is a friend.”

    Read on →: utsave vyasane yuddhe durbhikṣe rāṣṭra-viplave

  • pāpān nivārayati yojayate hitāya
    guhyam nigūhati guṇān prakaṭīkaroti |
    āpad-gataṁ ca na jahāti dadāti kāle
    san-mitra-lakṣaṇam idaṁ pravadanti santaḥ
    (Nīta-śatakam of Bhatṛhari: 1.73)

    “The wise say these are the characteristics of a true friend: he prevents one from sins, engages one in what is beneficial, conceals one’s secrets, affirms one’s qualities, does not abandon one in trouble, and gives one [whatever is required or desired] at the appropriate time.”

    Read on →: pāpān nivārayati yojayate hitāya

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