Chanakya Neeti. Chapter 1, Verse 12: On Discernment and Company
Chapter 1 · Verse 12
On Discernment and Company
आतुरे व्यसने प्राप्ते दुर्भिक्षे शत्रुसङ्कटे । राजद्वारे श्मशाने च यस्तिष्ठति स बान्धवः ॥
āture vyasane prāpte durbhikṣe śatrusaṅkaṭe | rājadvāre śmaśāne ca yastiṣṭhati sa bāndhavaḥ ||
❖ ❖ ❖
“In sickness, in distress, in famine, when surrounded by enemies, at the king's door, at the cremation ground. Whoever stands by you, that is family.”
In Modern Life
Six tests separate real bonds from social ones: serious illness, financial collapse, scarcity, social attack, dealings with the state (court, police, regulators), and death of someone close. The people who show up at all six are vanishingly few. Keep score quietly. Treasure those who pass.
