शोकारातिभयत्राणं प्रीतिविश्रम्भभाजनम् ।
केन रत्नमिदं सृष्टं मित्रमित्यक्षरद्वयम् ॥
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.”