AN 2.20

20

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattanti. Katame dve? Dunnikkhittañca padabyañjanaṁ attho ca dunnīto. Dunnikkhittassa, bhikkhave, padabyañjanassa atthopi dunnayo hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā saddhammassa sammosāya antaradhānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

20

“These two things, mendicants, lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching. What two? The words and phrases are misplaced, and the meaning is misinterpreted. When the words and phrases are misplaced, the meaning is misinterpreted. These two things lead to the decline and disappearance of the true teaching.

“Dveme, bhikkhave, dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattanti. Katame dve? Sunikkhittañca padabyañjanaṁ attho ca sunīto. Sunikkhittassa, bhikkhave, padabyañjanassa atthopi sunayo hoti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve dhammā saddhammassa ṭhitiyā asammosāya anantaradhānāya saṁvattantī”ti.

These two things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching. What two? The words and phrases are well organized, and the meaning is correctly interpreted. When the words and phrases are well organized, the meaning is correctly interpreted. These two things lead to the continuation, persistence, and enduring of the true teaching.”