Aṇguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
IV. Devatā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Sevens
Chapter IV: Devas
Sutta 35
Mitta Suttaṃ
Friends
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, let a monk cultivate a friend whose ways[1]are seven.
What seven?
He[2] gives what is hard to give,
does what is hard to do,
bears what is hard to bear,
confesses his own secret,
keeps others',
in want forsakes one not,
despises not when one is ruined.
Verily, monks, let a monk cultivate a friend whose ways are such.
He gives things hard to give, does what is hard,
Hard words to bear he bears, his secret tells,
But others' secrets keeps, in times of want
Forsakes you not, when ruined ne'er contemns:
In whom are found these ways, that is the friend
To cultivate if any need a friend.'
[1] Aṇgā.
[2] Cf. A. i, 286; S. i, 19; J. ii, 85; iv, 65.
