- Numbered Discourses 6.33Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.33
- 4. Deities4. Devatāvagga
Non-decline (2nd)Dutiyaaparihānasutta
“Tonight, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me:“Imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ 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 conscience, and for prudence.Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, hirigāravatā, ottappagāravatā— 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, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there.Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.
One respectful of the Teacher and the teaching,Satthugaru dhammagaru, keenly respecting the Saṅgha;saṅghe ca tibbagāravo; endowed with conscience and prudence,Hiriottappasampanno, reverential and respectful—sappatisso sagāravo; it is impossible for them to decline;Abhabbo parihānāya, they have drawn near to extinguishment.”nibbānasseva santike”ti.