AN 6.32  Paṭhamaaparihānasutta - Non-decline (First)

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:

Then, when the night had advanced, a certain deity, radiant in appearance and illuminating almost the entire Jeta’s grove, approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. Standing there, the deity said this to the Blessed One:

“Chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame cha? Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

“Venerable sir, there are these six qualities that ensure the |non-decline::non-regressing [aparihāna]| of a bhikkhu. What six? 1) |Respect::reverence, esteem [gārava]| for the Teacher, 2) respect for the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, 3) respect for the |Saṅgha::The community of monks and nuns practicing in line with the Buddha’s teachings. In the broader sense, this is the community of disciples who have realized the noble path and fruition through the Buddha’s teachings [saṅgha]|, 4) respect for the training, 5) respect for |diligence::quality of wishing to do one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamāda]|, 6) respect for |courteousness::hospitality, friendly reception [paṭisanthāra]|. These, venerable sir, are the six qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.”

Idamavoca sā devatā. Samanuñño satthā ahosi. Atha kho sā devatā “samanuñño me satthā”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

This is what the deity said. The Teacher approved. Then that deity, thinking “The Teacher approves,” paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and vanished right there.

Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi: “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: ‘chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. Katame cha? Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

Then, when the night had passed, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Bhikkhus, last night, when the night had advanced, a certain deity having a beautiful appearance, illuminating almost the entire Jeta’s grove, approached me. Having drawn near and paid homage to me, she stood to one side. Standing there, that deity said this to me: ‘Venerable sir, there are these six qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu. What six? 1) Respect for the |Teacher::The Buddha [satthā]|, 2) respect for the Dhamma, 3) respect for the Saṅgha, 4) respect for the training, 5) respect for diligence, 6) respect for courteousness. These, venerable sir, are the six qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.’

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

This is what that deity said. Then that deity paid homage to me, circumambulated me, and vanished right there.

Satthugaru dhammagaru,
saṅghe ca tibbagāravo;
Appamādagaru bhikkhu,
paṭisanthāragāravo;
Abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike”ti.

Respectful of the teacher, respectful of the Dhamma,
and with keen respect towards the Saṅgha;
A bhikkhu with respect for diligence,
with respect for courteousness;
is incapable of decline,
and truly near to |Nibbāna::complete cooling, letting go of everything, deathless, freedom from calamity, the non-disintegrating [nibbāna]|.”