Aṅguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
XIV. Yodh-ā-jīva Vagga

III. The Book of the Threes

XIV. The Fighting-Man

Sutta 133

Mitta Suttaṃ

The Friend

 

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[264]

THUS HAVE I HEARD

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, he who is blessed with three qualities
should be followed as a friend.

What three?

Herein a monk gives what is hard to give,
does what is hard to do,
bears what is hard to bear.

If he have these three qualities
he should be followed as a friend."