• Numbered Discourses 6.33 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 6.33
  • 4. Deities 4. Devatāvagga

Non-decline (2nd) Dutiyaaparihānasutta

ā€œTonight, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me: ā€œImaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ aƱƱatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aį¹­į¹­hāsi. Ekamantaṁ į¹­hitā kho, bhikkhave, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ā€˜Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant. ā€˜chayime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti. What six? Katame cha? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saį¹…gha, for the training, for conscience, and for prudence. Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saį¹…ghagāravatā, 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 tatthevantaradhāyÄ«ti.

One respectful of the Teacher and the teaching, Satthugaru dhammagaru, keenly respecting the Saį¹…gha; saį¹…ghe 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.ā€ nibbānasseva santikeā€ti.

Tatiyaṁ.