7.32. Không Phóng Dật

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:

“Sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame satta?

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā.

Ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

Idamavoca sā devatā.

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

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

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:

‘sattime, bhante, dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattanti.

Katame satta?

Satthugāravatā, dhammagāravatā, saṅghagāravatā, sikkhāgāravatā, samādhigāravatā, appamādagāravatā, paṭisanthāragāravatā—

ime kho, bhante, satta dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti.

Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā.

Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Satthugaru dhammagaru,

saṅghe ca tibbagāravo;

Samādhigaru ātāpī,

sikkhāya tibbagāravo.

Appamādagaru bhikkhu,

paṭisanthāragāravo;

Abhabbo parihānāya,

nibbānasseva santike”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.

Then a certain devata, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta’s Grove, went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, she stood to one side. As she was standing there, she said to the Blessed One, “These seven qualities, lord, lead to a monk’s non-decline. Which seven? Respect for the teacher, respect for the Dhamma, respect for the Sangha, respect for training, respect for concentration, respect for heedfulness, respect for hospitality. These seven qualities, lord, lead to the non-decline of a monk.”

That is what the devata said. The Teacher approved. Sensing, “The Teacher approves of me,” the devata bowed down to the Blessed One and, circled him three times, keeping him to his right, and then disappeared right there.

Then when the night had past, The Blessed One addressed the monks: “Last night, monks, a certain devata in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta’s Grove, came to me and, on arrival, bowed down to me and stood to one side. As she was standing there, she said to me, ‘These seven qualities, lord, lead to a monk’s non-decline. Which seven? Respect for the teacher, respect for the Dhamma, respect for the Sangha, respect for training, respect for concentration, respect for heedfulness, respect for hospitality. These seven qualities, lord, lead to the non-decline of a monk.’

“That is what that devata said. Having said it, she bowed down to me, circled me three times, and then disappeared right there.”

Respecting the Teacher
respecting the Dhamma,
and with fierce respect for the Sangha,
respecting concentration, ardent,
and with fierce respect for training,
a monk respecting heedfulness,
and with respect for hospitality
—incapable of decline—
is right in the presence of unbinding.