Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
¶ 1So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
¶ 2At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
¶ 3There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,
“bhikkhavo”ti.
¶ 4“Mendicants!”
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
¶ 5“Venerable sir,” they replied.
Bhagavā etadavoca:
¶ 6The Buddha said this:
“Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā.
¶ 7“Mendicants, you should live with a protector, not without one.
Dukkhaṁ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati.
¶ 8Living without a protector is suffering.
Dasayime, bhikkhave, nāthakaraṇā dhammā.
¶ 9There are ten qualities that serve as protector.
Katame dasa?
¶ 10What ten?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.
¶ 11Firstly, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.
‘Sīlavā vatāyaṁ bhikkhu pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesū’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 12Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 13Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 14This is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.
¶ 15Furthermore, a mendicant is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically.
‘Bahussuto vatāyaṁ bhikkhu sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 16Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 17Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 18This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.
¶ 19Furthermore, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates.
‘Kalyāṇamitto vatāyaṁ bhikkhu kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 20Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 21Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 22This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato, khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ.
¶ 23Furthermore, a mendicant is easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re patient, and take instruction respectfully.
‘Suvaco vatāyaṁ bhikkhu sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato, khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsanin’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 24Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 25Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 26This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrūpāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.
¶ 27Furthermore, a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.
‘Yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho vatāyaṁ bhikkhu analaso, tatrūpāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātun’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 28Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 29Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 30This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro, abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo.
¶ 31Furthermore, a mendicant loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training.
‘Dhammakāmo vatāyaṁ bhikkhu piyasamudāhāro, abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 32Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 33Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 34This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu ‘āraddhavīriyo vatāyaṁ bhikkhu viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesū’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū …
¶ 35Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.
navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 36Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 37Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 38This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena.
¶ 39Furthermore, a mendicant is content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
‘Santuṭṭho vatāyaṁ bhikkhu itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārenā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 40Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 41Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 42This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato, cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā.
¶ 43Furthermore, a mendicant is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago.
‘Satimā vatāyaṁ bhikkhu paramena satinepakkena samannāgato, cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 44Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni.
¶ 45Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 46This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
¶ 47Furthermore, a mendicant is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.
‘Paññavā vatāyaṁ bhikkhu udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti.
¶ 48Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing.
Tassa therānukampitassa …pe… no parihāni.
¶ 49Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline.
Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
¶ 50This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā.
¶ 51You should live with a protector, not without one.
Dukkhaṁ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati.
¶ 52Living without a protector is suffering.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, dasa nāthakaraṇā dhammā”ti.
¶ 53These are the ten qualities that serve as protector.”
Idamavoca bhagavā.
¶ 54That is what the Buddha said.
Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.
¶ 55Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.