The Advantages of Friendship
(Mittanisamsa) (1)

[These ten gathas (stanzas) recounting the beneficial effects of friendship, are found in the Mugapakkha (Temiya) Jataka, vol. vii. No. 538].

1. He who maintains genuine friendship (who is not treacherous towards friends) will, whenever he goes far out of his home, receive abundance of hospitality. Many will obtain their living through him.

2. He who maintains genuine friendship will, whatever country, village or town he visits, be honoured.

3. He who maintains genuine friendship - robbers will not overpower him. Royalty will not look down upon him. He will triumph over all his enemies.

4. He who maintains genuine friendship, returns home with feeling of amity, rejoices in the assemblies of people, and becomes the chief among his kinsmen.

5. He who maintains genuine friendship, being hospitable to others, in turn, receives hospitality. Being respectful to others, in turn, receives respect. He enjoys both praise and fame.

6. He who maintains genuine friendship, being a giver, in turn, receives gifts himself. Worshipping others, he in turn is worshipped. He attains prosperity and fame.

7. He who maintains genuine friendship, shines (in glory) like the fire, and is radiant as a deity. Never will prosperity forsake him.

8. He who maintains genuine friendship, to him there will be many breeding cattle. What is sown in the field will flourish. The fruit of that which is sown he enjoys.1

9. He who maintains genuine friendship, should he fall from a precipice or mountain or tree, he will be protected (will not be harmed).

11. He who maintains genuine friendship cannot be overthrown by enemies even as the deep-rooted banyan tree cannot be overthrown by the wind.

(1). The Paritta text has 'puttanam phalamasnati' which means, 'blest with offsprings'. This is hardly compatible in the context of the stanza concerned. The original Jataka text has 'vuttanam phalamasnati' which means, 'the fruit of what is sown he enjoys', a meaning which harmonizes with the rest of the stanza.