Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca
mitho bhajanti ye sakhyaḥ
svÄrthaikÄntodyamÄ hi te
na tatra sauhṛdaṠdharmaḥ
svÄrthÄrthaá¹ tad dhi nÄnyathÄ

 Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; mithaḥ - mutually; bhajanti - reciprocate; ye - who; sakhyaḥ - friends; sva-artha - for their own sake; eka-anta - exclusively; udyamÄḥ - whose endeavor; hi - indeed; te - they; na - not; tatra - therein; sauhá¹›dam - true friendship; dharmaḥ - true religiosity; sva-artha - of their own benefit; artham - for the sake; tat - that; hi - indeed; na - not; anyathÄ - otherwise.


Text

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: So-called friends who show affection for each other only to benefit themselves are actually selfish. They have no true friendship, nor are they following the true principles of religion. Indeed, if they did not expect benefit for themselves, they would not reciprocate.

Purport

The Lord here reminds the gopīs that in pure loving friendship there is no sense of selfish interest but rather only love for one’s friend.