Aṇguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
IV. Devatā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Sevens
Chapter IV: Devas
Sutta 32
Hiri-Gārava Suttaṃ
Conscientiousness
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
Monks, this night a deva,
whose surpassing loveliness
lit up almost the whole of Jeta Grove,
visited, saluted and stood at one side;
and so standing,
the deva spoke to me and said:
"Lord, these seven things lead not to a monk's decline.
What seven?
Reverence for the Master,
Dhamma,
Order,
the training,
concentration,
conscientiousness
and fear of blame.
Indeed, lord, these seven things lead not to a monk's decline.'
Thus spake that deva, Monks,
and I approved;
and seeing this,
the deva saluted
and passed out on the right.
Deep reverence for the Master, Dhamma, Order;
The training, concentration keenly held
And prized, meek,[1], conscientious, fearing blame:
Not thus can monk decline; he's nigh the cool.
[1] Sappaṭissa.
