tad evāsya paraṁ mitraṁ yatra saṅkrāmati dvayam |
dṛṣṭe sukhaṁ ca duḥkhaṁ ca praticchayeva darpaṇe ||
(Subhāṣita-śataka)
“One in whom both the happiness and the distress of another appear like a reflection in a mirror upon being seen [in the other] is a great friend.”
sauhṛde vai ṣaḍ-guṇā veditavyāḥ
priye hṛṣyanty apriye ca vyathante |
syād ātmanaḥ suciraṁ yācate yo
dadāty ayācyam api deyaṁ khalu syāt ||
iṣṭān putrān vibhavān svāṁś ca dārān
abhyarthitaś cārhati śuddha-bhāvaḥ |
tyakta-dravyaḥ saṁvasen neha kāmād
bhuṅkte karma svāśiṣaṁ bādhate ca ||
(Mahābhārata: Udyoga-parva: 45.12)
“Friendship should be know to have six qualities: (1) friends are delighted in that which is pleasing [to their friends] and (2) are troubled by that which is displeasing [to them]. (3) When a friend requests something that has long been one’s own, a friend gives that [to a friend] and considers even something that should not be requested fit to be given. (4) A friend, being of pure disposition, considers even his dear sons, property, self, and wives fit to be given [to a friend] when requested. (5) A friend does not live together with a friend to whom he has given his property out of desire for it and rather subsists on his own work. (6) A friend can neglect his own wishes [for the sake of a friend].”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
ahitāt pratiṣedhaś ca hite cānupravartanam |
vyasane cāparityāgaḥ trividhaṁ mitra-lakṣaṇam ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 4100; Buddha-carita: 4.64)
“The characteristics of a friend are threefold: (1) to restrain one from what is harmful, (2) to encourage one in what is beneficial, and (3) to not desert one in adversity.”
śokārāti-bhaya-trāṇaṁ prīti-viśrambha-bhājanam |
kena ratnam idaṁ sṛṣṭaṁ mitram ity akṣara-dvayam ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.223)
“Who has created this gem composed of the two syllables “mi-tra” (“friend”)? A friend protects one from grief, enemies, and fear, and is a reservoir of affection and trust.”
