Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Awakened One, as I have heard:
“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sīlasampannā samādhisampannā paññāsampannā vimuttisampannā vimuttiñāṇadassanasampannā ovādakā viññāpakā sandassakā samādapakā samuttejakā sampahaṁsakā alaṁsamakkhātāro saddhammassa dassanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; savanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; upasaṅkamanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; payirupāsanampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; anussaraṇampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi; anupabbajjampahaṁ, bhikkhave, tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bahūpakāraṁ vadāmi. Taṁ kissa hetu? Tathārūpe, bhikkhave, bhikkhū sevato bhajato payirupāsato aparipūropi sīlakkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi samādhikkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi paññākkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi vimuttikkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati, aparipūropi vimuttiñāṇadassanakkhandho bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. Evarūpā ca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū satthārotipi vuccanti, satthavāhātipi vuccanti, raṇañjahātipi vuccanti, tamonudātipi vuccanti, ālokakarātipi vuccanti, obhāsakarātipi vuccanti, pajjotakarātipi vuccanti, ukkādhārātipi vuccanti, pabhaṅkarātipi vuccanti, ariyātipi vuccanti, cakkhumantotipi vuccantī”ti.
“Those bhikkhus who are accomplished in virtue, accomplished in collectedness, accomplished in wisdom, accomplished in liberation, accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation; who are advisors, instructors, explainers, encouragers, inspirers, gladdeners, competent teachers of the true Dhamma—I say that seeing such bhikkhus is of great benefit; listening to them is of great benefit; approaching them is of great benefit; attending upon them is of great benefit; recollecting them is of great benefit; and going forth under them is of great benefit. And what is the reason for this? Because even if one’s aggregate of virtue is not yet fully perfected, through associating with, attending upon, and honoring such bhikkhus, it progresses towards perfection through cultivation. Likewise, one’s aggregate of collectedness, one’s aggregate of wisdom, one’s aggregate of liberation, and one’s aggregate of the knowledge and vision of liberation—even if not yet perfected—progresses towards perfection through cultivation. And such bhikkhus as these are called teachers, caravan leaders, those who have abandoned conflict, dispellers of darkness, illuminators, makers of radiance, lighters of lamps, torch-bearers, bringers of light, Noble Ones, and those possessing vision.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Pāmojjakaraṇaṁ ṭhānaṁ,
etaṁ hoti vijānataṁ;
Yadidaṁ bhāvitattānaṁ,
ariyānaṁ dhammajīvinaṁ.
“This is a cause for joy,
for those who understand;
[the sight of] those who are well-trained,
the Noble Ones who live the Dhamma.
Te jotayanti saddhammaṁ,
bhāsayanti pabhaṅkarā;
Ālokakaraṇā dhīrā,
cakkhumanto raṇañjahā.
They illuminate the good Dhamma,
shining forth as bringers of light;
the steadfast ones, givers of light,
seers who have abandoned conflict.
Yesaṁ ve sāsanaṁ sutvā,
sammadaññāya paṇḍitā;
Jātikkhayamabhiññāya,
nāgacchanti punabbhavan”ti.
Having heard their teaching,
the wise, through perfect understanding;
directly knowing the ending of rebirth,
come no more to renewed existence.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.