36(5)A Friend(1)
An expanded parallel of 3:135.
"Bhikkhus,one should associate with a friend who possesses seven factors.
What seven?
(1)He gives what is hard to give.(2)He does what is hard to do.(3)He patiently endures what is hard to endure.(4)He reveals his secrets to you.(5)He preserves your secrets.(6)He does not forsake you when you are in trouble.(7)He does not roughly despise you.
Khinena natimannati.I translate on the supposition that khinena is an adverb mearing"hurtfully,roughly"(see DOPsv khina²).Mp,however,explains the line on the assumption that khinena means"in [time of]loss,when wealth has been exhausted":"When one's wealth is exhausted,he does not despise one because of one's loss.He does not think too highly of himself and look down on the other"(tassa bhoge khine tena khayena tamnatimanniati,tasmim omānam attanica atimanam na karoti).On Mp's interpretation,though,I do not see how this factor would differ from the preceding one.
One should associate with a friend who possesses these seven factors."
A friend gives what is hard to give,and he does what is hard to do.
He forgives you your harsh words and endures what is hard to endure.
He tells you his secrets,
yet he preserves your secrets.
He does not forsake you in difficulties,nor does he roughly despise you.
The person here in whom
these qualities are found is a friend.
One desiring a friend should resort to such a person.[32]