Sūkti Sudhākara

ikṣor agrāt kramaśaḥ parvaṇi parvaṇi yathā rasa-viśeṣaḥ

ikṣor agrāt kramaśaḥ parvaṇi parvaṇi yathā rasa-viśeṣaḥ |
tadvat sajjana-maitrī viparītānāṁ tu viparītā ||
(Pañcatantra: 2.38)

“As special taste is gradually produced in segment after segment of sugarcane from the tip onwards, so too it is in friendship with the virtuous [i.e., the sweetness gradually increases as the relationship develops]. It is the opposite [i.e., bitterness gradually arises], however, with the opposite [i.e., the unvirtuous].”

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ity evam upakāro’dya bhavatākāri me mahān

ity evam upakāro’dya bhavatākāri me mahān |
tat te’smi parama-prīto nijābhīṣṭān varān vṛṇu ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.7.131)

[Śrī Bhagavān to Nārada:] “Thus in this way today [i.e., by reminding me of the gopīs] you have greatly favored me. Therefore, I am supremely pleased with you. Please choose your desired benedictions.”

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mat-prīty-utpādana-vyagra śrī-nārada suhṛt-tama

mat-prīty-utpādana-vyagra śrī-nārada suhṛt-tama |
hitam evākṛtātyantaṁ bhavān me rasikottama ||
(Bṛhad Bhāgavatāmṛta: 1.7.124)

[Śrī Bhagavān:] “O Nārada, O you who are eager to bring me pleasure, [and are thus] my dearest friend! You have indeed benefitted me to the highest degree, O very best of rasikas!”

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te santaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ nirupādhika-bāndhavāḥ

te santaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ nirupādhika-bāndhavāḥ |
ye nṛsiṁha bhavan nāma gāyanty uccair mudānvitāḥ ||
(Nārasiṁha Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.352)

“[Prahlāda Mahārāja:] O Nṛsiṁha, those who, filled with joy, loudly sing your name are the sincere friends of all living beings.”

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apriyāṇy api pathyāni ye vadanti nṛṇām iha

apriyāṇy api pathyāni ye vadanti nṛṇām iha |
te eva suhṛdaḥ proktā anye syur nāma-dhārakāḥ ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 2199)

“Only those who say to people here that which, although unpleasant, needs to be said are called friends. Others are only bearers of the name [i.e., they are only so-called friends].”

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apṛṣṭo’pi hitaṁ brūyāt yasya necchet parābhavam

apṛṣṭo’pi hitaṁ brūyāt yasya necchet parābhavam |
eṣa eva satāṁ dharmo viparīta-mato’nyathā ||
(Hitopadeśa: 2.140)

“Even if unasked, say that which is beneficial [i.e., give good advice] to someone whose downfall you do not desire. This is certainly the dharma of the sādhus, and the opposite mentality is otherwise [i.e., not doing so is the way of the unwholesome].”

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kṣīreṇātmagatodakāya hi guṇā dattā purā te’khilā

kṣīreṇātmagatodakāya hi guṇā dattā purā te’khilā
kṣīrottāpam avekṣya tena payasā svātmā kṛśānau hutaḥ |
gantuṁ pāvakam unmanas tad abhavad dṛṣṭvā tu mitrāpadaṁ
yuktaṁ tena jalena śāmyati satāṁ maitrī punas tv īdṛśī ||
(Nīti-śatakam: 76)

“First, milk bestowed all its own well-known qualities on water [such as whiteness, tastefulness, etc., when it was mixed with water]. Observing the milk [in its midst] becoming greatly heated [i.e., seeing the milk and itself being heated on a stove], the water made itself an offering into the fire [i.e., the water sacrificed itself to protect the milk]. The milk became eager to enter the fire [along with its friend the water, as it neared boiling over] upon seeing the distress of his friend [i.e., the water], but became calm when combined with water again. Such is friendship with the virtuous.”

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mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ

mitraṁ prīti-rasāyanaṁ nayanayor ānandanaṁ cetasaḥ
pātraṁ yat sukha-duḥkhayoḥ saha bhaven mitreṇa tad durlabham |
ye cānye suhṛdaḥ samṛddhi-samaye dravyābhilāṣākulās
te sarvatra milanti tattva-nikaṣa-grāvā tu teṣāṁ vipat ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.224)

“A friend is a pleasing elixir for the eyes and a joy to the heart. A friend who is a sharer with us in happiness and distress is rare to find. Others who are well-wishes in times of prosperity and full of desire for wealth can be found everywhere. Adversity is the touchstone test of their nature.”

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tad evāsya paraṁ mitraṁ yatra saṅkrāmati dvayam

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.”

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