मैत्री

Maitri means friendliness toward all beings: a true wish for their good. In the Gita it comes in the portrait of the devotee in chapter 12. One who hates no being is a friend to all and is also compassionate (Gita 12.13). The verse has the word in the form "maitra".

Friendliness is the warm side of having no hatred. Where hatred remains, friendliness cannot stand, so the list begins with freedom from hatred and friendliness follows. In chapter 11 as well, the one who reaches the Lord is the one without enmity toward any being (Gita 11.55).

Friendliness and evenness of mind go together. Friendliness belongs to the will: wishing every being well. Evenness belongs to the mind: the scales of liking and disliking do not tip. So a person who is equal toward friend and foe can still be a friend to all.

Common misreading: that friendliness means close friendship with everyone, or agreeing with everything they say.

Better sense: a wish for everyone's good that grows when hatred dissolves. It does not need closeness.

The whole passage is in The Devotee Dear to the Lord.