[666] In the passage "One should not wish for a son — how then a companion?" (na puttamiccheyya kuto sahāyaṃ), the word "na" is a word of negation.
"Sons" (puttā): there are four kinds of sons — the son born of oneself (attaja), the son born in one's field (khettaja), the given son (dinnaka), and the pupil-son (antevāsika).
"Companion" (sahāyaṃ): companions are so called — those with whom going is at ease, coming is at ease, going and coming are at ease, sitting is at ease, lying down is at ease, addressing one another is at ease, conversing is at ease, and discussing together is at ease.
"One should not wish for a son — how then a companion?": one should not wish for, should not accept, should not long for, should not yearn after even a son — how then will one wish for, accept, long for, or yearn after a friend, an acquaintance, an intimate, or a companion? Therefore it is said: "One should not wish for a son — how then a companion?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.