[382] On one occasion, great king, I was dwelling among the Sakyans, where there is a town of the Sakyans named Nagaraka. Then, great king, the bhikkhu Ānanda approached me; having approached, he paid homage to me and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, great king, the bhikkhu Ānanda said this to me: "Venerable sir, this is half of the holy life (brahmacariya), namely: good friendship (kalyāṇamittatā), good companionship (kalyāṇasahāyatā), good comradeship (kalyāṇasampavaṅkatā)."
When this was said, great king, I said to the bhikkhu Ānanda: "Not so, Ānanda! This is the entire holy life, Ānanda, namely: good friendship, good companionship, good comradeship. When a bhikkhu has good friends, Ānanda, this is to be expected of one who has good friends, good companions, good comrades: he will develop the Noble Eightfold Path (ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga), he will cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.