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# Snp 2:8 · 2:8 A Boat
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/snp-2-8/
- Published: 2026-06-01T00:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:43:08.000Z
- Description: Sutta Nipāta · Snp 2:8. Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Sutta Piṭaka, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Sutta Nipāta, Verse, Pali, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 03:29

*Although often lost in translation, the overall structure of this poem is clearly articulated in the Pali. The first seven verses—coming under the “because”* (yasmā)*—state reasons, while the last verse, under the “so”* (tasmā), *draws the conclusion: Find a good teacher and practice the Dhamma.*

*Because:*

When you honor

—as the devas, Indra—

one from whom

you might learn the Dhamma,

he, learned, honored,

confident in you,

shows you the Dhamma.

You, enlightened, heedful,

befriending a teacher like that,

practicing the Dhamma

in line with the Dhamma,

pondering,

giving it priority,

become

knowledgeable,

clear-minded,

subtle.

But if you consort with a piddling fool

who’s envious,

hasn’t come to the goal,

you’ll go to death

without

having cleared up

the Dhamma right here,

with

your doubts unresolved.

Like a man gone down to a river—

turbulent, flooding, swift-flowing—

and swept away in the current:

How can he help others across?

Even so:

He who hasn’t

cleared up the Dhamma,

attended to the meaning

of what the learned say,

crossed over his own doubts:

How can he get others

to comprehend?

But as one who’s embarked

on a sturdy boat,

with rudder & oars,

would—thoughtful, skillful,

knowing the needed techniques—

carry many others across,

even so

an attainer-of-knowledge, learned,

developed in mind,[1](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/StNp/StNp2%5F8.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) unwavering

can get other people to comprehend—

when the conditions have arisen

for them to lend ear.

*So:*

You should befriend

a person of integrity—

learned, intelligent.

Practicing so

as to know the goal,

when you’ve experienced the Dhamma,

you get bliss.

vv. 316–323

Note

1\. According to [MN 36](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/mn-36/), “developed in mind” means able to experience painful feelings without their invading and remaining in the mind.

See also: [MN 22](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/mn-22/); [SN 35:197](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-35-197/); [Sn 4:1](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-4-1/)

---

*Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. © 2014 / rev. 2017 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu — released under the [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) licence, for free distribution only. Source: [dhammatalks.org](https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/StNp/StNp2%5F8.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (Metta Forest Monastery).*