Shloka 10
शत्रुश्चैव हि मित्रं च न लेख्यं न च मातृका । यो वै संतापयति यं स शत्रु: प्रोच्यते नृप
śatruś caiva hi mitraṃ ca na lekhyaṃ na ca mātṛkā | yo vai santāpayati yaṃ sa śatruḥ procyate nṛpa rājann |
Duryodhana says: “O king, there is no fixed register or set of letters by which one can permanently label someone as ‘enemy’ or ‘friend.’ Whoever causes distress to another is, in that relation, called that person’s enemy.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Friendship and enmity are not permanent labels; they are defined by conduct. The one who causes another suffering functions as that person’s enemy in that context.
Duryodhana addresses a king and frames relationships in practical terms, arguing that ‘friend’ and ‘enemy’ are determined by who brings distress or relief, not by any fixed social or written designation.