(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.