Relationship is very similar to the MIND attempting to take OWNERSHIP.  The MIND requires to form RELATIONSHIPS primarily as a means of discharging its KARMA. These RELATIONSHIPS represent the primary classificaion other people into "friends" and "adversaries", with many grey shaded areas in between.

Essentially, the Mind takes on the task of identifying those people that will "GIVE" (allies and friends) and those that will always (try to) "TAKE" away what belongs to it.  THis is the physical worldly aspect of relationships and forms the cornerstone of the segmented modern society.  It is not necessary that a person should always be an "ally" or always be an "enemy".  These relationships, like everything else in the physical world is transient. There are no long term committments (even between "close relatives"). 

The Puranas are opposed to this segmenting of fellow Human Beings into various classes.  The Puranas are full of narratives about the DEVAS and the ASURAS always fighting each other, with the ASURAS being the PLUNDERERS and the destroyers of DHARMA, while the DEVAS are the GIVERS and the practitioners of the VEDA and DHARMA as propounded by EASWARA.

There are ASURA characters that display DEVA like attributes and there are DEVAs that would more aptly have been described as ASURAS.  Again,  the same ASURA who started out as a practitioner of ADHARMA may by his encounter with the PARAMATHMA, become a (reformed) DEVA like person.

In the many battles between DEVAS and ASURAS, the ASURAS, always win and it is only with their ability to invoke the Paramathma to come to their rescue, that the DEVAS manage to recoupe and turn the tide.

The ASURAS, as the "sworn enemy" of the PARAMATHMA, never invoke the almighty to come to their rescue.  It must however be understood that the Asuras also obtain their powers from either Brahma, Shiva or Vishnu, usually by the performance of Yagnyas or through deep meditation. But, having obtained the powere, they go about grossly misusing it to obtain personal benefits, and to put to difficulty the Bhakthas of the very same Devatas that granted them the power!

So ASURAS are essentially people that put in the effort to obtain the required powers, but then go about using the power only to PROJECT THEMSELVES at the cost of everyone else. In fact,even at the point at which they obtain the power (the BOON from Easwara),  they specifically ask for those powers that will make them physically indestructible. A classic example of this type of boon was requested by Hiranyakashipu, who worded his request to Brahma in such a manner that he could not be killed by an enemy.  On the other hand a DEVA would typically ask for MOKSHAM as the boon.

So the intent of the Asuras and the DEVAS is clear. The ASURAS have ambitions in the physical world, while the DEVAS are looking to obtain a release from the material world.

What the PURANAS want to convey is that both the ASURAS and DEVAS are aspects of each of our MINDS.   Our behaviour is a transient combination of the characteristics of ASURAS and DEVAS.  The DEVAS are supposed to be selfless, while the Asuras are supposed to be self centered.  The conflict between the two aspects of our Minds represents the continual internal turmoil that we experience. The conflict and turmoil in our minds is responsible for the manner in which we evaluate and classify our fellow Human Beings as ASURAS (our "sworn enemy"), or DEVAS (our "allies").  For one in whom Asuric characteristics dominate, a DEVA would look like an enemy (an "ASURA") and vice versa.

The PURANAS also very aptly narrate how these very ASURAS who want to "destroy" the Paramathma are actually accepted by Him in the end and granted MOKSHAM.  The message here is that the Asuras are also an aspect of EASWARA and anyone who intensely concentrates on EASWARA, whether positively or negatively, will attain EASWARA.  In fact, some of the biggest "VILLAINS" in the PURANAS (Hiranyakashipu, Ravanna, Hiranyaksha) were all the AVATARAS that the DWARAKAPALAS (guards) of NARAYANA took on. 

The AVATARS taken by the DWARAKAPALAS were for the sole purpose of demonstrating the two aspects of our INNER SELVES.

So the RELATIONSHIP between the two aspects of our minds representing the ASURIC and DHARMIC nature of our minds have to recognized and managed.  For most of us, the two attributes will exist in different proportions.  The proportion would also mot be stationary.  It will change rapidly depending on the life experiences of the individual.  The Paramathma illustrates through the narratives in the Puranas that it is very important for the Asuric nature within us to be controlled and minimized.

Without this control over the two aspects of our minds, there will be no intellectual evolution.

Regarding relationships,  the PURANAS emphasize that the different individuals that we perceive are actually reflections of our own inner self.  The only way in which we can avoid becoming ASURAS and also keep the company of Dharmic individuals is to keep a check on our own inner selves. 

Any inner conflict will reflect in our "external" relationships.  Any inner peace will result in a DHARMIC view of our companions, that does not sow the seeds of discord.

The development of the ability to control our ASURIC nature,  and furthering our DHARMIC nature, is a major step towards the evolution of the MIND.