These two bright qualities protect the world - 1) sense of shame and 2) moral dread.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Dveme, bhikkhave, sukkā dhammā lokaṁ pālenti. Katame dve? Hirī ca, ottappañca. Ime ce, bhikkhave, dve sukkā dhammā lokaṁ na pāleyyuṁ, nayidha paññāyetha mātāti vā mātucchāti vā mātulānīti vā ācariyabhariyāti vā garūnaṁ dārāti vā. Sambhedaṁ loko agamissa yathā ajeḷakā kukkuṭasūkarā soṇasiṅgālā. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, ime dve sukkā dhammā lokaṁ pālenti tasmā paññāyati mātāti vā mātucchāti vā mātulānīti vā ācariyabhariyāti vā garūnaṁ dārāti vā”ti.
“Bhikkhus, these two bright qualities protect the world. What two? |Sense of right and wrong::sense of shame, moral conscience, modesty [hirī]| and |moral dread::fear of wrongdoing out of regard for others [ottappa]|. If, bhikkhus, these two bright qualities did not protect the world, there would be no recognition of ‘mother’, ‘maternal aunt’, ‘maternal uncle’s wife’, ‘teacher’s wife’, or ‘the wives of the respected’. The world would fall into confusion, like goats, chickens, pigs, dogs, and jackals. But because, bhikkhus, these two bright qualities protect the world, there is recognition of ‘mother’, ‘maternal aunt’, ‘maternal uncle’s wife’, ‘teacher’s wife’, or ‘the wives of the respected’.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Yesañce hiriottappaṁ,
sabbadā ca na vijjati;
Vokkantā sukkamūlā te,
jātimaraṇagāmino.
“Those in whom sense of shame and moral dread,
are not present at all times;
Have deviated from the |root of brightness::pure source [sukkamūla]|,
and are heading for birth and death.
Yesañca hiriottappaṁ,
sadā sammā upaṭṭhitā;
Virūḷhabrahmacariyā te,
santo khīṇapunabbhavā”ti.
Those in whom sense of shame and moral dread,
are attended to at all times;
They |grow in the spiritual life::mature in the spiritual practice, develop in the spiritual life [virūḷhabrahmacariya]|,
peaceful, they end re-birth.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Bhikkhus, these two bright qualities protect the world. What two? |Sense of right and wrong::sense of shame, moral conscience, modesty [hirī]| and |moral dread::fear of wrongdoing out of regard for others [ottappa]|. If, bhikkhus, these two bright qualities did not protect the world, there would be no recognition of ‘mother’, ‘maternal aunt’, ‘maternal uncle’s wife’, ‘teacher’s wife’, or ‘the wives of the respected’. The world would fall into confusion, like goats, chickens, pigs, dogs, and jackals. But because, bhikkhus, these two bright qualities protect the world, there is recognition of ‘mother’, ‘maternal aunt’, ‘maternal uncle’s wife’, ‘teacher’s wife’, or ‘the wives of the respected’.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Those in whom sense of shame and moral dread,
are not present at all times;
Have deviated from the |root of brightness::pure source [sukkamūla]|,
and are heading for birth and death.
Those in whom sense of shame and moral dread,
are attended to at all times;
They |grow in the spiritual life::mature in the spiritual practice, develop in the spiritual life [virūḷhabrahmacariya]|,
peaceful, they end re-birth.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Dveme, bhikkhave, sukkā dhammā lokaṁ pālenti. Katame dve? Hirī ca, ottappañca. Ime ce, bhikkhave, dve sukkā dhammā lokaṁ na pāleyyuṁ, nayidha paññāyetha mātāti vā mātucchāti vā mātulānīti vā ācariyabhariyāti vā garūnaṁ dārāti vā. Sambhedaṁ loko agamissa yathā ajeḷakā kukkuṭasūkarā soṇasiṅgālā. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, ime dve sukkā dhammā lokaṁ pālenti tasmā paññāyati mātāti vā mātucchāti vā mātulānīti vā ācariyabhariyāti vā garūnaṁ dārāti vā”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Yesañce hiriottappaṁ,
sabbadā ca na vijjati;
Vokkantā sukkamūlā te,
jātimaraṇagāmino.
Yesañca hiriottappaṁ,
sadā sammā upaṭṭhitā;
Virūḷhabrahmacariyā te,
santo khīṇapunabbhavā”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.