Flouting conscience, loathing it, saying “I’m on your side”, but not following up in deeds—know they’re not on your side.
Some say nice things to their friends without following it up. The wise will recognize one who talks without doing.
No true friend relentlessly suspects betrayal, looking for fault. One on whom you rest, like a child on the breast, is a true friend, not split from you by others.
One whose reward is the fruit of bearing the burden of service develops a happy state, producing joy and attracting praise.
One who has drunk the nectar of seclusion and the nectar of peace, free of stress, free of evil, drinks the joyous nectar of Dhamma.
Conscientious Companionship
Snp 2.3 · Hirisutta
Connections
Collection & context
- Sutta NipātaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.