sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.53

Mittasutta

A Friend The Friend

“Kiṁsu pavasato mittaṁ,
“Who’s your friend abroad?
“What is the friend of one on a journey?

kiṁsu mittaṁ sake ghare;
Who’s your friend at home?
What is the friend in one’s own home?

Kiṁ mittaṁ atthajātassa,
Who’s your friend in need?
What is the friend of one in need?

kiṁ mittaṁ samparāyikan”ti.
Who’s your friend in the next life?”
What is the friend in the future life?”

“Sattho pavasato mittaṁ,
“A caravan is your friend abroad.
“A caravan is the friend of one on a journey;

mātā mittaṁ sake ghare;
Mother is your friend at home.
A mother is the friend in one’s own home;

Sahāyo atthajātassa,
A comrade in a time of need
A comrade when the need arises

hoti mittaṁ punappunaṁ;
is a friend time and again.
Is one’s friend again and again.

Sayaṅkatāni puññāni,
But the good deeds you’ve done yourself—
The deeds of merit one has done—

taṁ mittaṁ samparāyikan”ti.
that’s your friend in the next life.”
That is the friend in the future life. ”