Theragāthā 212

Verses of the Senior Monks 6.3

The Book of the Sixes

Chapter One

Mahānāga

1 Whoever has no respect

for their spiritual companions

falls away from the true teaching,

like a fish in a little puddle.

2 Whoever has no respect

for their spiritual companions

doesn’t thrive in the true teaching,

like a rotten seed in a field.

3 Whoever has no respect

for their spiritual companions

is far from extinguishment,

in the teaching of the Dhamma king.

4 Whoever does have respect

for their spiritual companions

doesn’t fall away from the true teaching,

like a fish in plenty of water.

5 Whoever does have respect

for their spiritual companions

thrives in the true teaching,

like a fine seed in a field.

6 Whoever does have respect

for their spiritual companions

is close to extinguishment

in the teaching of the Dhamma king.