1At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, this is the forerunner and precursor of the rising of the sun, that is, the dawn.

So too sn.v.30 for a bhikkhu this is the forerunner and precursor for the arising of the Noble Eightfold Path, that is, good friendship.[n.32] Spk: Good friendship is like the dawn; the noble path along with insight, arisen by relying on good friendship, is like the appearance of the sun.

When a bhikkhu has a good friend, it is to be expected that he will develop and cultivate this Noble Eightfold Path.

"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu who has a good friend develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops right view, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right intention, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right speech, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right action, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right livelihood, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right effort, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
He develops right concentration, which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.

It is in this way that one who has a good friend develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. "Sūriyassa, bhikkhave, udayato etaṁ pubbaṅgamaṁ etaṁ pubbanimittaṁ, yadidaṁ – aruṇuggaṁ;

evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa uppādāya etaṁ pubbaṅgamaṁ etaṁ pubbanimittaṁ, yadidaṁ – kalyāṇamittatā.

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ – ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvessati, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarissati.

Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaroti?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ … pe … sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāveti, ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkarotī"ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.