Truth is the mother; Wisdom is the father; Right Conduct is the brother; Compassion is the friend; Peace is the spouse; Forgiveness is the son; these six alone are the real relations for everyone.
In this vast phenomenal universe, we consider the body as the mother. But the body is perishable by the very name given to it (Sariram - that which decays). The bodies of the mother and the son are both impermanent.
Satyam mata (Truth is the mother): Hence for every human being the real mother is Truth. Truth is that which remains unchanged for all time. Truth is eternal and changeless. Hence from ancient times the sages esteemed Truth as Divine. Truth, therefore, should be considered one’s real mother.
Pita Jnanam (Wisdom is the father): Is the one who fosters and protects your body the father? He is only a guardian. The true father is wisdom, which is Divine. The Upanishads hailed Truth and Wisdom as Divine.
Dharmo bhrata (Righteousness is the brother): The uterine brothers who are elder or younger than one are not one’s real brothers. From the worldly point of view they are one’s brother. But one’s true brother is Righteousness (Dharma), which is Divine.
Daya Sakha (Compassion is the friend): People look upon associates with bodies as friends. This is not correct. One’s true friend is ‘Compassion’.
Shantam Patni (Peace is the spouse): One’s true spouse is peace, without which no existence is possible. Peace is a shining ornament for man. It is Divine.
Kshama putrah (Forgiveness is the son): ‘This is not obtained easily by everyone. Today, because of the influence of the Kali age, sons are more keen on getting at the properties of their parents than on rendering them service or looking after them. Shri Rama was a son who had such supreme regard for the honour and good name of the father that he willingly chose to go into exile to the forest and face all difficulties. Hence Rama is hailed as the very embodiment of Dharma (Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmah). Such a son is verily the Divine. To have forgiveness (Kshama) as one’s son is to possess the Divine.
These six qualities are the right relations for every man. Human birth has been conferred on humanity to acquire these relationships. ( SS Sept 98 , pp. 225-226)