Mahabharata 11: He That Frustrates Is The Foe Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

Who be whose foe, who be whose friend,
Mark there's nor yet measure at hand,
Whoso causes pain, threat to crown,
He O king is the foe to frown.
____________________________________________
Here is the transliteration of the original verse:

shatruh cha eva hi mitram cha na lekhyam na cha mātŗkā |
yah vai santāpayati yam sah shatruh prochyate nŗpa || sabhā 55-10 ||

Duryodhan had very practical and simple definitions: Whoso frowns at your crown is foe; the sore that festers is the wound; whatso wounds is a weapon. He had many such gems and working wisdoms: Discontent and greed is the source of wealth. The duty of a sovereign is to add to his coffers. A king has no brother, nor lasting friend. And he gave illustrations from the ancient lore. One king to another a born foe is. Even lowly white ants, if allowed to breed unstopped, would eat away a huge tree in course of time. To understand this verse: na lekhyam = (there is)no written definition; na cha mātŗkā = nor yet a mark or measure; yah vai santāpayati = indeed, he that harasses and hinders, troubles; prochyate = is called, said.