In 'Paṭhamamittasuttaṁ
"the Lord Buddha explains the seven things by which one can recognize a
true friend.
"Duddadaṁ
dadāti mittaṁ, dukkaraṁ vāpi kubbati",
Atho pissa duruttāni, khamati
dukkhamāni pi.
A friend gives what's hard to give,
And does what's surely hard to do,
And when there are bad, blaming words,
That are hard to bear, he bears them.
" Guyhañ-ca tassa akkhāti, guyhassa parigūhati",
Āpadāsu na jahati, khīṇena nātimaññati.
His secret he will tell to you,
But your secret he surely hides,
He supports you in misfortune,
He does not despise you when ruined.
Yasmiṁ
etāni ṭhānāni saṁvijjantīdha puggale"
So mitto mittakāmehi, bhajitabbo tathāvidho.
In that person these
things are found:
He is a true and lovely friend,
With him one can keep company.
In Sigālasuttaṁ Lord Buddha explains ,
That friend
who is truly helpful,
The friend for you in weal and woe,
That friend who knows what's for your good,
The friend who is compassionate:
The Wise will know these four are friends,
Attend on them like child on breast.