AN 6.33

Dutiyaaparihānasutta

“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, hirigāravatā, ottappagāravatā— ime kho, bhante, cha dhammā bhikkhuno aparihānāya saṁvattantī’ti. Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Non-decline (2nd)

“Tonight, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, came to me, bowed, stood to one side, and said to me: ‘Sir, these six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant. What six? Respect for the Teacher, for the teaching, for the Saṅgha, for the training, for conscience, and for prudence. These six things don’t lead to the decline of a mendicant.’ That is what that deity said. Then he bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right side, before vanishing right there.

Satthugaru dhammagaru, saṅghe ca tibbagāravo; Hiriottappasampanno, sappatisso sagāravo; Abhabbo parihānāya, nibbānasseva santike”ti.

One respectful of the Teacher and the teaching, keenly respecting the Saṅgha; endowed with conscience and prudence, reverential and respectful— it is impossible for them to decline; they have drawn near to extinguishment.”