Verses of the Senior Monks 6.3

The Book of the Sixes

Chapter One

Mahānāga

Whoever has no respect

for their spiritual companions

falls away from the true teaching,

like a fish in a little puddle.

Whoever has no respect

for their spiritual companions

doesn’t thrive in the true teaching,

like a rotten seed in a field.

Whoever has no respect

for their spiritual companions

is far from extinguishment,

in the teaching of the Dhamma king.

Whoever does have respect

for their spiritual companions

doesn’t fall away from the true teaching,

like a fish in plenty of water.

Whoever does have respect

for their spiritual companions

thrives in the true teaching,

like a fine seed in a field.

Whoever does have respect

for their spiritual companions

is close to extinguishment

in the teaching of the Dhamma king.