sutta » an » an3 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.26

Sevitabbasutta

Associates

“Tayome, bhikkhave, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
“These three people are found in the world.

Katame tayo?
What three?

Atthi, bhikkhave, puggalo na sevitabbo na bhajitabbo na payirupāsitabbo.
There is a person you shouldn’t associate with, accompany, or attend.

Atthi, bhikkhave, puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.
There is a person you should associate with, accompany, and attend.

Atthi, bhikkhave, puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.
There is a person you should associate with, accompany, and attend with honor and respect.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo na sevitabbo na bhajitabbo na payirupāsitabbo?
Who is the person you shouldn’t associate with, accompany, or attend?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo hīno hoti sīlena samādhinā paññāya.
It’s someone who is inferior in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo na sevitabbo na bhajitabbo na payirupāsitabbo aññatra anuddayā aññatra anukampā.
You shouldn’t associate with, accompany, or attend such a person, except out of kindness and compassion.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo?
Who is the person you should associate with, accompany, and attend?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo sadiso hoti sīlena samādhinā paññāya.
It’s someone who is similar in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.
You should associate with, accompany, and attend such a person.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Sīlasāmaññagatānaṁ sataṁ sīlakathā ca no bhavissati, sā ca no pavattinī bhavissati, sā ca no phāsu bhavissati.
Thinking, ‘Since our ethical conduct is similar, we can discuss ethics, the conversation will flow, and we’ll both be at ease.

Samādhisāmaññagatānaṁ sataṁ samādhikathā ca no bhavissati, sā ca no pavattinī bhavissati, sā ca no phāsu bhavissati.
Since our immersion is similar, we can discuss immersion, the conversation will flow, and we’ll both be at ease.

Paññāsāmaññagatānaṁ sataṁ paññākathā ca no bhavissati, sā ca no pavattinī bhavissati, sā ca no phāsu bhavissatīti.
Since our wisdom is similar, we can discuss wisdom, the conversation will flow, and we’ll both be at ease.’

Tasmā evarūpo puggalo sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.
That’s why you should associate with, accompany, and attend such a person.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo?
Who is the person you should associate with, accompany, and attend with honor and respect?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo adhiko hoti sīlena samādhinā paññāya.
It’s someone who is superior in terms of ethics, immersion, and wisdom.

Evarūpo, bhikkhave, puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.
You should associate with, accompany, and attend such a person with honor and respect.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Iti aparipūraṁ vā sīlakkhandhaṁ paripūressāmi, paripūraṁ vā sīlakkhandhaṁ tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmi;
Thinking, ‘I’ll fulfill the entire spectrum of ethical conduct I haven’t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the ethical conduct I’ve already fulfilled.

aparipūraṁ vā samādhikkhandhaṁ paripūressāmi, paripūraṁ vā samādhikkhandhaṁ tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmi;
I’ll fulfill the entire spectrum of immersion I haven’t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the immersion I’ve already fulfilled.

aparipūraṁ vā paññākkhandhaṁ paripūressāmi, paripūraṁ vā paññākkhandhaṁ tattha tattha paññāya anuggahessāmīti.
I’ll fulfill the entire spectrum of wisdom I haven’t yet fulfilled, or support with wisdom in every situation the wisdom I’ve already fulfilled.’

Tasmā evarūpo puggalo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā sevitabbo bhajitabbo payirupāsitabbo.
That’s why you should associate with, accompany, and attend this person with honor and respect.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasminti.
These are the three people found in the world.

Nihīyati puriso nihīnasevī,
A man who associates with an inferior goes downhill,

Na ca hāyetha kadāci tulyasevī;
but associating with an equal, you’ll never decline;

Seṭṭhamupanamaṁ udeti khippaṁ,
following the best, you’ll quickly rise up,

Tasmā attano uttariṁ bhajethā”ti.
so you should keep company <j>with people better than you.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.