Non-decline (1st)Paṭhamaaparihānasutta

Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.“Chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. What six?Katame cha? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for diligence, and for hospitality.Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā— These six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.”ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

That is what that deity said,Idamavoca sā devatā. and the Teacher concurred.Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Then that deity, knowing that the Teacher concurred, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before vanishing right there.Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha told the mendicants all that had happened, adding:Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:

“Respect for the Teacher and the teaching,Satthugaru dhammagaru, and keen respect for the Saṅgha;saṅghe ca tibbagāravo; a mendicant who respects diligenceAppamādagaru bhikkhu, and hospitalitypaṭisanthāragāravo; can’t decline,Abhabbo parihānāya, and has drawn near to extinguishment.”nibbānasseva santike”ti.