Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
IV. Devatā Vagga

The Book of the Sevens

Chapter IV: Devas

Sutta 35

Mitta Suttaṃ

Friends

 

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[18]

THUS have I heard:

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 ways¹are seven.

What seven?

He² 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.

 

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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.'

 

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¹ Aṅgā.

² Cf. A. i, 286; S. i, 19; J. ii, 85; iv, 65.