ON FRIENDSHIP – MITRA LAKSHANAM

SUBHASHITHAM: 054

 पापान्निवारयति योजयते  हिताय

 गुह्यं निगूहति गुणान् प्रकटीकरोति  |

आपद्गतं च न जहाति ददाति काले 

सन्मित्रलक्षणमिदं प्रवदन्ति  सन्ताः || -भर्तृहरि (नीतिशतक)

paapaan nivaarayati yojayate hitaaya  guhyam cha goohati gunaan prakatee karoti I

aapadgatam cha na jahaati dadaati kale  sanmitra lakshanam idam pravadanti santaH  II

He restrains his friend from committing sins, induces his friend to do good deeds, conceals the unseemly secrets of his friend, projecting only his good qualities to others, does not desert his friend in difficulties, but gives timely assistance – saints describe these as characteristics of a true friend.

ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति गुह्यमाख्याति पृच्छति ।

भुंक्ते भोजयते चैव षड्विधं प्रीतिलक्षणम् ॥   – पञ्चतंत्र

dadAti pratigRuhNAti guhyam AkhyAti pRucChati ।

bhunkte bhojayate chaiva Shad vidham prIti lakShaNam ॥   – panchatantra

The following six are the   signs of love (or friendship) –1&2 sharing (giving and taking) 3&4.telling and keeping secrets, 5&6.sharing food (feeding and being fed).   – Panchatantra, Mitrasamprapti

शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदु:खयो: I

दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिस्च सत्यताच्च सुहृत् गुणा: II

Purity of purpose, generosity, courage, equanimity in pleasure or pain, politeness, affection and truthfulness – these are the characteristics of a true friend.

रहस्य भेदो याञ्च्चा च नैष्टुर्यं चलचिन्तता I

क्रोधो निस्सत्यता ध्यूतमेतन्मित्रस्य दूषणं  II

Divulging a secret, begging, hard-heartedness, fickleness of mind and gambling – these are the faults in a friend.

क्षीरेणात्मगतोदकाय हि गुणाः दत्ताः पुरा तेऽखिलाः

क्षीरे तापमवेक्ष्य तेन पयसा ह्यात्मा कृशानौ हुतः ।

गन्तुं पावकमुन्मनस्तदभवद्दृष्ट्वा तु मित्रापदम्

युक्तं तेन जलेन शाम्यति सतां मैत्री पुनस्त्वीदृशी ॥

Milk imparts its inherent qualities like sweetness to its constituent water. When it is boiled, the water on having seen the milk in distress immediately sacrifices itself to the fire (and evaporates). The milk in turn becomes eager to throw itself into the fire (by boiling over) on seeing the plight of its friend water. However, it settles down when some water is poured. Such is the nature of friendship of the virtuous.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBYAM NAMA: