माता मित्रं पिता चेति स्वभावात्त्रतयं हितम् ।
कार्यकारणतश्चान्ये भवन्ति हितबुद्धयः ॥
mātā mitraṁ pitā ceti svabhāvāt tratayaṁ hitam |
kārya-kāraṇataś cānye bhavanti hita-buddhayaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: 1.35)
“Mother, friend, and father—these three by nature are kind [i.e., attentive to your best interests], whereas others are of kind disposition [towards you] because it is their duty [or, because they have some purpose or need of their own to fulfil].”