At Sāvatthī. Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha, Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind. “idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: ‘Who are those who protect themselves? And who are those who don’t protect themselves?’ ‘kesaṁ nu kho rakkhito attā, kesaṁ arakkhito attā’ti?

Then it occurred to me: Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi: ‘Those who do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind ‘ye kho keci kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti; don’t protect themselves. tesaṁ arakkhito attā. Even if they’re protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry, Kiñcāpi te hatthikāyo vā rakkheyya, assakāyo vā rakkheyya, rathakāyo vā rakkheyya, pattikāyo vā rakkheyya; they still don’t protect themselves. atha kho tesaṁ arakkhito attā. Why is that? Taṁ kissa hetu? Because such protection is exterior, not interior. Bāhirā hesā rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā; That’s why they don’t protect themselves. tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

Those who do good things by way of body, speech, and mind Ye ca kho keci kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti; do protect themselves. tesaṁ rakkhito attā. Even if they’re not protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry, Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya; they still protect themselves. atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā. Why is that? Taṁ kissa hetu? Because such protection is interior, not exterior. Ajjhattikā hesā rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā; That’s why they do protect themselves.’” tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā’”ti.

“That’s so true, great king! That’s so true!” said the Buddha. And he repeated the king’s statement, adding: “Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja. Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti …pe… tesaṁ arakkhito attā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Bāhirā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā; tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā. Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti; tesaṁ rakkhito attā. Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya; atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ajjhattikā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā; tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā”ti.

Idamavoca …pe…

“Restraint of the body is good; “Kāyena saṁvaro sādhu, restraint of speech is good; sādhu vācāya saṁvaro; restraint of mind is good; Manasā saṁvaro sādhu, everywhere, restraint is good. sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro; A sincere person, restrained everywhere, Sabbattha saṁvuto lajjī, is said to be ‘protected’.” rakkhitoti pavuccatī”ti.