“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.
“Bhikkhus, last night, when the night had advanced, a certain deity, radiant in appearance and illuminating almost the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached me. Having drawn near and paid homage to me, she stood to one side. Standing there, that deity said this to me: ‘Venerable sir, there are these six qualities that ensure the non-decline of a bhikkhu. What six? 1) Respect for the Teacher, 2) respect for the Dhamma, 3) respect for the Saṅgha, 4) respect for the training, 5) respect for conscience, 6) respect for moral dread. These, venerable sir, are the six qualities that lead to the non-decline of a bhikkhu.’”
Idamavoca, bhikkhave, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyīti.
This is what that deity said. After saying this, she paid homage to me, circumambulated me, and disappeared right there.
Satthugaru dhammagaru,
saṅghe ca tibbagāravo;
Hiriottappasampanno,
sappatisso sagāravo;
Abhabbo parihānāya,
nibbānasseva santike”ti.
Respectful of the teacher, respectful of the Dhamma,
and with keen respect towards the Saṅgha;
Endowed with conscience and moral fear,
agreeable and respectful in conduct;
is incapable of decline,
and truly near to Nibbāna.”